<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>MAGDEBURG, Germany (AP) —</strong> The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) was projected to win a significant victory in a regional election on Sunday, although it remains uncertain whether the party will be able to form the first right-wing state government in Germany since World War II.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The party’s candidate for governor, Ulrich Siegmund, 35, described the election outcome as historic and credited Chancellor Friedrich Merz for aiding his campaign.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Siegmund stated to ARD public broadcaster, "we have written history," and noted that voters had sent a message that “things cannot carry on like this.” He added that the result was also a signal toward Berlin, criticizing Merz by saying, “A very good campaigner for us in this election campaign was Friedrich Merz. Every day this man is in the chancellery is one too many.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">AfD entered the election seeking an absolute majority in the state legislature to govern independently, which would challenge the mainstream parties' longstanding refusal to collaborate with AfD. However, it was unclear whether this goal would be achieved after the polls closed.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A successful formation of a state government would represent a significant milestone for AfD, which has been active for 13 years, amid growing dissatisfaction with the national government’s handling of the economy.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The projected results pose a challenge for Merz, whose center-right party has governed Saxony-Anhalt for 24 years. Unlike other European nations, Germany has not yet seen a far-right or right-wing populist party lead a national, state, or major-city government.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">AfD’s regional branch in Saxony-Anhalt is classified by the domestic intelligence agency as a right-wing extremist group, a characterization that AfD disputes.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Projections from ARD and ZDF public television, based on exit polls and early counting, indicate that AfD received approximately 44% of the vote, a significant increase from 2.1% five years ago in the region of 2.1 million people west of Berlin.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Merz, was projected to receive around 18.5% of the vote, losing nearly half of its previous support. The Left Party, Social Democrats, and Greens were each projected to receive around 9%.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It remains uncertain whether the BSW party will achieve the 5% threshold necessary to gain representation in the legislature. The projections suggest that AfD may be slightly short of an absolute majority, although this could change.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Alice Weidel, AfD’s national co-leader, characterized the projected outcome as “sensational,” asserting that the party received a clear mandate to govern. She expressed a willingness to collaborate with others to improve Saxony-Anhalt and advance Germany.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Incumbent governor Sven Schulze expressed disappointment but acknowledged AfD's rise as the state’s leading political force, stating that the CDU would need to address the election results.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Franziska Hoppermann, the national general secretary of Merz’s party, described the results as “very difficult” and reiterated the party's refusal to engage with AfD.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Germany’s 16 states possess significant powers, including oversight of security and education.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Siegmund has prioritized policies such as the deportation of illegal immigrants and reducing incentives for immigration. He also aims to withdraw Saxony-Anhalt from the regional public broadcaster due to concerns about misinformation.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">AfD in Saxony-Anhalt advocates for allowing home schooling, which is currently not permitted in Germany, and plans to ban schools from raising the rainbow flag while ensuring the national flag is displayed. The party opposes financial aid to Ukraine and advocates for lifting sanctions against Russia, although these issues fall outside the jurisdiction of state governments.</p>