Germany's far-right AfD struggles to form first state government after landmark win - Reuters

Germany’s far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) convened for the first sitting of the Saxony‑Anhalt state parliament on Tuesday, a month after the party’s historic electoral breakthrough in the state. The election result marked the first time the AfD emerged as the largest party in a German state, positioning it to seek its inaugural state‑level government.

Despite the strong showing, the AfD has not secured a coalition partner and faces an uncertain path to forming a governing majority. Other parties in the parliament have signalled reluctance to cooperate with the AfD, leaving the party without the necessary support to command a stable administration.

The parliamentary session proceeded with the election of the speaker and the allocation of committee seats, but the AfD’s inability to assemble a coalition has stalled any substantive legislative agenda. The party’s leadership has indicated that it will continue negotiations with potential partners, though no formal agreements have been announced.

Analysts note that the situation underscores the challenges the AfD faces in translating electoral gains into executive power, given the broader political establishment’s opposition to collaboration. The deadlock also raises questions about the stability of the state’s government formation process in the coming weeks.

As the Saxony‑Anhalt parliament prepares to undertake its legislative work, the AfD remains in a holding pattern, awaiting a breakthrough that would allow it to move from opposition to governing status for the first time in Germany’s post‑war history.