The AfD secured about 44% of the vote, more than doubling its result from the previous election. The result dealt a major blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which finished a distant second.
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Despite its strong performance, the AfD fell short of the majority needed to govern the state alone. Other major political parties have ruled out forming a coalition with the party, leaving uncertainty over how the next government will be formed.
AfD leader Ulrich Siegmund described the result as a historic step and said the party would seek greater political influence across Germany ahead of the 2029 federal election.
The election also recorded a high voter turnout of around 77%, reflecting strong public interest in the vote and growing dissatisfaction with Germany’s current political leadership.
The result is being closely watched across Germany as the AfD continues to gain support, particularly in the country’s eastern states.
