After AfD wins Saxony-Anhalt, every possible government fails Jewish voters

The far-right AfD party won the Saxony-Anhalt state election in Germany with 43.8% of the vote, marking its first state victory and falling three seats short of a majority. This outcome, driven partly by a protest vote against Berlin, creates a complex dilemma for forming a government, as mainstream parties boycott the AfD, which state intelligence classifies as a right-wing extremist organization. The election's impact on Jewish communities in Saxony-Anhalt is a significant concern, particularly regarding control over police and education, which shapes how children learn about Israel, antisemitism, and the Nazi era. Inessa Myslitska, chair of the Landesverband Jüdischer Gemeinden Sachsen-Anhalt, stated, "an AfD-led state government would cause me great concern for democratic culture, the culture of remembrance, the protection of minorities, and the open society in Saxony-Anhalt."

• The AfD's co-leader Alice Weidel has called a government with the left-conservative BSW party "interesting," while co-leader Tino Chrupalla appealed to conservative CDU lawmakers to defect.
• Mainstream parties (CDU, SPD, Greens, Die Linke) hold 39 seats combined, matching the AfD, making BSW's five seats crucial for either side to reach the 42 needed for a majority.
• All potential government configurations present challenges for Jewish communities, with concerns ranging from the AfD's extremist elements to other parties' stances on Israel and antisemitism.
• Antisemitism has risen significantly in Germany, with RIAS recording nearly 1,000 verified cases in the month following October 7, 2023, and 270 incidents in Saxony-Anhalt in 2025, a 33.7% increase.