German voters head to polls as far-right AfD party eyes historic state win

What the report says

Voters in Saxony-Anhalt, an eastern German state, are set to vote in closely watched elections on Sunday that could give the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) a historic breakthrough at the state level. Al Jazeera, citing DPA and Reuters, reported that polls show the AfD leading on about 40 percent, ahead of the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) at 23 percent.

The article said the AfD could win an outright majority if smaller parties fail to clear Germany’s 5 percent threshold for entering the state parliament. If that does not happen, a CDU-led government under incumbent premier Sven Schulze would be the most likely result. The vote may also lead to weeks of coalition talks, depending on which parties win seats.

AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund has portrayed the election as a step toward national power in Germany’s 2029 federal vote. The report also noted the party’s longer-running challenge to mainstream parties’ refusal to cooperate with it, often called a “firewall.” That strategy has already been tested at local level, but a state victory would be a significant escalation.

The campaign has unfolded against broader debate over Germany’s political direction, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz facing criticism over the strength of his CDU and the handling of AfD. In Magdeburg, the state capital, thousands attended a pro-democracy demonstration the night before the election. Initial results were expected later on Sunday.