Following its success in Sunday’s state parliamentary election on September 11, the German far-right party AfD is attempting to attract allies to form a regional government. Party leader Ulrich Siegmund, 35, the primary candidate for the position of state premier, is holding talks with both the small left‑wing party BSW and individual representatives from other political forces to “determine if there is common ground that will help secure a stable majority.”
Although the leader aims to form a parliamentary majority “as quickly as possible,” coalition negotiations in German politics often last for weeks or even months. During the election campaign, he stated his intention to win an absolute majority to govern alone, but the party secured only 39 seats in the 83-seat parliament. Even if an agreement is reached, the expected majority would be slim, which could complicate governance.
Political isolation and the search for partners
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is currently the most popular at the national level, promoting a platform that includes restricting immigration, restoring ties with Russia, reducing support for Ukraine, and exiting the eurozone. In the parliament of Saxony‑Anhalt, all major parties have refused to cooperate with the AfD, which the local Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies as extremist.
The only force open to dialogue is the BSW, which won 5 seats and shares the AfD‘s position on migration and Russia. However, the BSW rejects a formal coalition format and demands the appointment of an independent premier—a condition the leader rejects. “Naturally, our goal must be to be able to appoint the minister‑president,” he emphasized, noting that nearly 44% of voters cast their ballots for the party.
If negotiations fail, he is considering the possibility of persuading some of the 15 deputies from the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Chancellor Friedrich Merz to defect to the AfD. Despite internal divisions within the CDU regarding the strategy of isolating the far‑right party, there are currently no confirmed cases of deputies switching parties. The leader also allowed for the possibility of new elections, noting that this could happen if “no one else is prepared to take on the responsibility.”
Source: The Straits Times
