The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has emerged as the clear winner in regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, according to exit polls, becoming the first far-right party to achieve such a result since World War II.
Despite winning 44 percent of the vote according to exit polls, the AfD is not expected to secure an absolute majority in the state parliament, but the party is poised to inflict a major defeat on Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives, as the results reflect the unpopularity of the ruling coalition in Berlin amid a fragmented political landscape, Reuters reported.
Leading in national polls, the AfD wants to establish a foothold in the country to advance its political agenda, which includes sweeping immigration restrictions, renewed dialogue with Russia and an exit from the eurozone.
As vote counting continues, doubts remain about whether the AfD will be able to form a government, but the political signal sent by these regional elections was clear, with a voter turnout of 77 percent, according to public broadcaster ZDF.
"We are writing history in the country," said the AfD leader in Saxony-Anhalt, 35-year-old Ulrich Siegmund, whose campaign rallies have attracted thousands of people.
"People have made it clear that they finally want political change, and above all, they have shown that they want it to happen with us," added Zigmund, who had said repeatedly before the election that a local victory would be the first step towards winning the country in the federal elections scheduled for 2029.
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