Merz’s party loses German state election as AfD wins 43.8% of the vote

The party secured 39 seats in the 83-seat state parliament, leaving it just three short of an absolute majority.

The result marks a dramatic surge in support for the AfD, which won little more than 20 per cent of the vote in the state five years ago.

The party has hailed the result as a “historic outcome” and claimed voters have handed it a mandate to govern.

However, it remains unclear whether the AfD will be able to form a government after falling short of the seats needed to govern alone.

Its influential state leader, Ulrich Siegmund, had previously refused to rule out governing alone or entering into a partnership with other parties.

No "far-right" party has led a German state government since the Second World War.

Despite its victory, the AfD’s failure to secure an absolute majority means it is not yet clear whether it will be able to take control in Saxony-Anhalt.

An AfD-led state government would give the party significant influence over areas including policing, education and culture.

Saxony-Anhalt, in eastern Germany, has a population of around 2.1 million.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency classifies the state’s AfD branch as “far-right extremist”, a designation rejected by Mr Siegmund.

The AfD’s victory represents a historic shift in German politics after years of cooperation between other parties aimed at keeping the hard right out of power.

The party campaigns for tighter immigration controls, Germany’s withdrawal from the euro and the restoration of closer ties with Russia as much of Europe continues to back Ukraine.

Following the result, Mr Siegmund signalled that the AfD was prepared to work with other parties in an attempt to form a government.

He said: “We extend a hand to all democratic forces that wish to pursue better policies”.

However, Mr Siegmund warned that key issues including migration and domestic security would be "non-negotiable" in any negotiations with potential partners.

The scale of the AfD’s victory was underlined by a bruising night for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU, which has governed Saxony-Anhalt for more than two decades.

Mr Merz’s party secured just 17.2 per cent of the vote and 15 seats, losing around half of its previous support.

None of the other parties reached double figures.

The Social Democrats secured 9.3 per cent of the vote, followed by the Greens on 8.9 per cent and the Left Party on 8.6 per cent. All three parties won eight seats.

Meanwhile, BSW crossed the threshold for representation with 5.3 per cent of the vote, securing five seats.

The party has previously criticised the so-called political "firewall" under which other German parties have refused to cooperate with the AfD.

Voter participation was also particularly high, with turnout reaching 77.8 per cent.