AfD’s Saxony-Anhalt landslide stuns residents and raises fears for Germany’s future
The far-right AfD’s 44% win in Saxony-Anhalt’s state election has left many in Magdeburg, the state capital, shocked and anxious, with residents describing the result as heartbreaking and warning of high costs ahead.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has won a landslide victory in Saxony-Anhalt’s state election, securing 44% of the vote and sending shockwaves through Berlin and beyond. The result, which came on Sunday night, has left many residents of the state capital Magdeburg grappling with the implications of a party that domestic intelligence services classify as “rightwing extremist”. For some, the scale of the win was as alarming as the party’s radical platform, which includes anti-immigrant and pro-Kremlin positions.
Walking through Magdeburg on Monday, a day after the vote, one resident, Judith, an 88-year-old project engineer, described the news as “heartbreaking”. Her perspective is shaped by a lifetime of experience, including being forced to leave Poland as an eight-year-old refugee in 1946 before eventually settling in Magdeburg. Her story reflects the deep historical currents that run through the region, where memories of displacement and division remain vivid. For her, the AfD’s surge represents a threat to the values she has held throughout her career and life.
The election result has also stirred unease among younger residents. A 21-year-old Guinean-German paramedic, collecting donations for a local hospice at the central bus station, was among those who spoke openly about their concerns. While not all residents were willing to discuss their views, many expressed a sense of foreboding about what the AfD’s rise could mean for social cohesion and Germany’s political direction. The party’s victory has been described as a “seismic” event, not just for Saxony-Anhalt but for the entire country.
The AfD’s success in Saxony-Anhalt is part of a broader pattern of far-right gains in eastern Germany, where economic anxieties, cultural grievances, and distrust of mainstream parties have fueled support for the populist movement. The party’s pro-Kremlin stance has also raised concerns about its implications for Germany’s foreign policy, particularly in the context of ongoing tensions with Russia. Analysts have warned that the result could embolden far-right forces in other regions and complicate efforts to form stable governing coalitions.
For many in Magdeburg, the immediate question is what comes next. The AfD’s victory has left mainstream parties scrambling to respond, with some ruling out any coalition with the far-right. Meanwhile, residents are left to ponder the broader consequences. As one local put it, “I fear the price could be high.” The sentiment captures a mood of anxiety that extends beyond the state’s borders, as Germany watches to see how the far-right’s rise will shape its political landscape in the years ahead.
