Ulrich Siegmund, the lead candidate of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), thanked tech billionaire Elon Musk for his support after the party secured a historic victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election on Sunday.
"Thank you, @elonmusk, for your support and for your clear and highly important perspective on the political developments of our time — including here in Germany," Siegmund wrote on social media, as reported by The Hill.
The AfD won an estimated 44-44.5% of the vote, according to exit polls from Germany's two public broadcasters, ARD and ZDF. That represents a jump of about 20 percentage points compared with the last Saxony-Anhalt regional election in 2021. The centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which has governed the state since 2002, saw its vote share collapse to 18.5%.
The result marks the first time a far-right party has won a German state election since World War II. The AfD branch in Saxony-Anhalt is classified by Germany's domestic intelligence agency as "right-wing extremist," a designation Siegmund has rejected.
"We have made history today," Siegmund told supporters at the party's election night event, according to ABC News. "We extend a hand to all democratic forces that wish to pursue better policies."
However, it remains unclear whether the AfD will be able to form a government. ARD projected the party could win as many as 39 of the state parliament's 83 seats — just shy of a majority. Most other parties, including the CDU, have long vowed not to form a coalition government with the AfD. The outcome may depend on whether smaller parties surpass the 5% threshold required to enter parliament, which could affect the seat distribution.
Protesters gathered on the streets of the state capital Magdeburg following the result, while national political figures expressed dismay. Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of the centre-left SPD, called the result "saddening" and a "turning point" for the country. CDU national general secretary Franziska Hoppermann described it as "a very difficult result for us."
The AfD campaigned on a platform that included a "deportation offensive" in Saxony-Anhalt and proposals to reduce the teaching of Nazi Germany in schools, the ABC reported. The party's policies have stoked fear among minority communities in the state, with some residents telling The Guardian they are considering whether to stay or leave.
As the dust settles, attention turns to coalition negotiations. Siegmund has said he does not wish to govern with any other party. If the AfD fails to secure a majority, the CDU could potentially form a government with smaller parties, though it faces pressure from the result.