Far-right AfD wins Saxony-Anhalt state election, misses absolute majority

In the state election held in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, on September 6, 2026, the far-right AfD emerged as the clear winner, securing the most votes but falling short of an absolute majority. The CDU suffered a heavy defeat, and party leaders from both sides drew immediate conclusions: AfD leaders claimed a clear mandate to govern, while the CDU warned against forming a coalition with a left-wing bloc of the SPD and Greens.