Far-right AfD wins vote in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt state: Exit polls

Exit polls show the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) winning the most votes in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, a result the party is hailing as historic. If confirmed by the official count, it would mark a breakthrough for a party that has never before finished first in a German state vote.

The celebration comes with a major caveat: finishing first does not guarantee governing power. Germany's other parties have long refused to form coalitions with the AfD, so it is not yet clear whether the party will be able to assemble a government or will remain shut out of power despite its vote share.

The outcome caps a campaign in which the AfD polled strongly in the eastern state and drew national attention as a test of the party's momentum. Attention now turns to the certified results and to coalition talks, which will determine whether the exit-poll victory translates into actual control of the state government.