German far-right set for big win in eastern state - exit polls

Exit polls indicate that Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) is poised to secure a commanding lead in the state election in Saxony‑Anhalt, projecting 44‑44.5 percent of the vote. The conservative CDU trails far behind at 18.5 percent, according to the same survey. The AfD has described the projected result as a “historic outcome.” State party figure Ulrich Siegmund said he will not cooperate with any other political group, a stance he reiterated despite calls for broader alliances. If the AfD translates its vote share into governing power, it would mark the first time a far‑right party has held authority in a German state since World War Two. State‑level control would confer responsibility over policing, education and cultural affairs. Saxony‑Anhalt, home to roughly 2.1 million residents, has seen its AfD branch classified by domestic intelligence services as a “far‑right extremist” organization. Siegmund rejects that characterization, maintaining that the label does not reflect the party’s platform. The AfD’s current polling exceeds earlier surveys, but the final composition of the state parliament remains uncertain. The decisive factor will be whether smaller parties surpass the five‑percent threshold required for parliamentary entry. Should they fall short, the AfD’s prospects of achieving an outright majority would improve markedly.