Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has achieved a major victory in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, according to early election projections. The AfD is expected to receive more than 44% of the vote, putting it well ahead of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is projected to receive about 18.2%. The result is being described by AfD supporters as a historic moment. The party’s leading candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, said the result showed that voters had given the AfD a mandate to govern. However, winning the most votes does not automatically mean the AfD will be able to form the state government. The state parliament has 83 seats, and the AfD is currently projected to win around 39 seats. The final balance could depend on whether smaller parties manage to pass the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament. One important factor is the left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). If the BSW fails to enter parliament, the AfD could have a better chance of gaining enough seats to control the government. Even so, forming a coalition could remain extremely difficult. Most mainstream German parties have refused to form coalitions with the AfD. This policy is often described as a political "firewall" or "Brandmauer." The aim is to prevent the far right from entering government. Siegmund has also said that he does not want to govern with another party. This could make it even harder for the AfD to take control of the state despite its strong election result. Saxony-Anhalt has around 2.1 million residents and is located in eastern Germany. The AfD has become particularly strong in eastern German states, where it has gained support over issues such as immigration, national identity, security and dissatisfaction with established political parties. The party's state branch has been classified as right-wing extremist by Germany's domestic intelligence authorities. The AfD rejects this classification. Voter turnout was estimated at around 78%, showing strong participation in the election. At the AfD's election-night headquarters in Magdeburg, supporters celebrated loudly after the first projections were announced. Some supporters also sang Germany's national anthem. Siegmund called the result a historic achievement. Meanwhile, CDU leader Sven Schulze accepted the defeat and said his party would have to respond to the result. The national SPD leadership described the outcome as dramatic and said it should be seen as a warning signal for Germany's federal government. The result is also important beyond Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD has been performing strongly in national opinion polls and remains particularly powerful in eastern Germany. The party also won the most votes in Thuringia's 2024 state election but was unable to form a government. The Saxony-Anhalt result therefore represents a major increase in AfD support, but whether it can actually turn that success into political power will depend on the final seat numbers and the position of the other parties.