BERLIN: Voters in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt headed to the polls on Sunday in an election that could deliver the far-right Alternative for Germany its first victory in a state contest and deepen pressure on Germany’s political establishment.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has emerged as a powerful force in eastern Germany and is seeking to translate its growing national support into control of a state government.
The election is being closely watched well beyond Saxony-Anhalt because a first-place finish would represent another major breakthrough for a party that Germany’s mainstream political groups have traditionally refused to cooperate with.
Even if the AfD finishes first, forming a government could prove considerably more difficult. Other major parties have maintained their so-called “firewall” against entering coalitions with the party, potentially allowing its rivals to assemble an alternative governing majority.
Immigration, economic pressures, energy policy and dissatisfaction with the federal government have featured prominently in the campaign, while the AfD has capitalised on particularly strong support across Germany’s former communist east.
The vote is also being treated as an important test of the broader political mood in Germany and could influence calculations within the country’s mainstream parties ahead of future regional and federal contests.
A landmark AfD victory would further underline the transformation of Germany’s political landscape and intensify debate over whether the longstanding strategy of isolating the party remains sustainable.