Far-right AfD leads in German state election, raising coalition questions

In early September 2026, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as the strongest party in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, with around 43 percent of the vote. The party's candidate, Siegmund, is also ahead in the direct constituency vote against his main rival, Schulze. This result has revived debates about a possible coalition with the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which has so far ruled out cooperation with the AfD.