AfD surges in Saxony-Anhalt but fails to clinch a majority
The far-right AfD won a commanding 43.8% in Saxony-Anhalt but fell three seats short of a majority in the 83-seat parliament (39 seats), leaving the path to government unclear. CDU slumped to 17.2% and 15 seats, with SPD, Greens and Left each around 9% and eight seats apiece. Turnout was 77.8%. The result cements AfD as the strongest force in eastern Germany, reshaping regional politics and complicating possible government formations.