"Alternative for Germany" wins elections in Saxony-Anhalt
In the elections in Saxony-Anhalt, "Alternative for Germany," according to exit poll data, garners 44.5%. The party itself has called these results historic. The question remains whether the party will be able to find partners, as other major parties previously ruled out a coalition with AfD.
Alice Weidel. Photo: AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Exit poll figures are provided by ARD television channel after polling stations closed. The CDU takes second place with 18.5%. "The Left Party" gains 9.5%, "The Greens" — 9%, SPD — 8%, "Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht" — 5%, FDP — 2%, other parties — 3.5%, reports Bild. The electoral threshold is 5%.
Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Sven Schulze conceded the CDU's defeat in the state elections and congratulated the AfD on their victory.
"We live in a democracy. I want to congratulate the election winner," he stated.
Schulze, however, urged against calling the election result a "dark day" for the state.
The record-high turnout, according to him, was a clear signal from voters to which politicians must respond.
AfD co-chair Alice Weidel called the election result historic. "This is the best we have ever achieved in this federal state," she told ARD.