BERLIN, Sept 6 (Reuters) – The far-right Alternative for Germany scored a historic victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, exit polls showed on Sunday, dealing a blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives, but it was unclear whether the result would be enough to govern.
The AfD won 44.5% of the vote, according to exit polls of ARD broadcaster, up from 20.8% in 2021.
Merz’s CDU fell to 18.5% from 37.1% in 2021, a setback in a state the conservatives have governed since 2002.
Most parties have ruled out joining an AfD-led coalition, meaning the party would likely need a majority of seats to take power.
