Germany's far-right AfD says 'democracy demands' parties work with them after state election win

What the report says

Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is trying to secure enough backing to form a government in Saxony-Anhalt after a major election result left it just short of an outright majority, according to BBC World News. Preliminary results put the party on 43.8% of the vote, translating to about 39 seats in the 83-seat state parliament, three seats short of the threshold needed to govern alone.

BBC reported that AfD deputy parliamentary leader Beatrix von Storch urged rival parties to respect the election outcome and enter talks, arguing that voters’ choice should not be ignored. She said the party was also in contact with individuals inside the conservative CDU, while state AfD leader Ulrich Siegmund described the result as a clear mandate to govern. Discussions with potential supporters began on Sunday night and could continue for days or weeks.

The outcome matters because no far-right party has led a German state since World War Two, and state governments oversee areas such as policing and local education. BBC also noted that Saxony-Anhalt’s domestic intelligence agency classifies the AfD there as right-wing extremist, a label the party rejects. The CDU won 17.2% in the state, and its response could influence whether the AfD can assemble a governing majority or face new elections.