German Chancellor Merz rules out coalition with far-right AfD after Saxony-Anhalt win

September 8, 2026 at 06:55 AM2 min

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruled out any cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany after the party won 44 percent in Saxony-Anhalt's state election. The AfD took 39 of 83 seats but fell short of an absolute majority. Merz said the result shook his party to its foundations but rejected calls to resign.

Key Facts

The AfD won 44 percent of the vote and 39 of 83 seats in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruled out any cooperation with the AfD and rejected calls to resign.
The populist left BSW was the only party willing to work with the AfD, sharing its anti-immigration and pro-Russia positions.
AfD support was strongest among men at 50 percent, compared to 39 percent among women.

Election Result

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) finished first in the Saxony-Anhalt state election with nearly 44 percent of the vote. The party secured 39 of 83 seats in the state parliament, falling short of an absolute majority. The AfD plans to seek support from individual conservative lawmakers to form a government. The result tests the longstanding 'firewall' against cooperation with the AfD maintained by Germany's mainstream parties.

Merz Response

Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruled out any cooperation with the AfD and rejected speculation about his resignation. Merz said the outcome shook his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to its foundations. He described the moment as a fight for the survival of Western values and defended large-scale defense borrowing. Merz also ruled out any change in policy toward Ukraine and Russia.

Voter Profile

AfD support was strongest among men at 50 percent, compared to 39 percent among women. Voters with lower economic stability and lower levels of education were more likely to back the AfD. Nostalgia also played a role in eastern Germany, according to data analysis. ARD reported that 'peace in Europe' was the second most important factor for voters.