AfD nears first far-right victory in Germany since World War II as Saxony-Anhalt votes

Voting commenced in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, for an election that could see the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secure its first state-level victory since World War II. Led by Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD has consistently polled above 40%, potentially achieving an absolute majority and bypassing the "firewall" policy of mainstream parties. This election is a crucial test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government, which has adopted a tougher stance on migration to counter the AfD's rising popularity. Siegmund stated, "No matter the outcome of tomorrow's election, we have already made history." If the AfD falls short of an absolute majority, a CDU-led administration under Sven Schulze is the most probable outcome, potentially leading to complex coalition negotiations.