A recent survey by the Institute for New Social Answers (INSA) has given the patriotic party AfD its highest level of support to date in Saxony-Anhalt. The poll, commissioned by the newspaper NIUS and conducted between October 7 and 14, 2025, among 1,000 eligible voters, shows the AfD reaching 40% voting intention, an increase of ten points compared to the June survey.
In contrast, the CDU has suffered a notable decline, dropping to 26% support, eight points below its previous result. Next in voting intention are The Left Party with 11%, SPD and BSW with 6% each, and both the FDP and The Greens with 3%. The electoral situation means that the CDU could only achieve a governing majority through a broad coalition with several left-wing parties, including The Left, the SPD, and the BSW.
The AfD also leads in simulated direct elections for the office of state prime minister. If citizens had to choose between Sven Schulze (CDU candidate) and Ulrich Siegmund (leader of the AfD parliamentary group), Siegmund would surpass Schulze by one point: 22% to 21%. However, 33% of respondents rejected both candidates, and another 21% remained undecided.
Among voters’ top priorities for the 2026 state elections are health and immigration, each mentioned by 40% of respondents. They are followed by education (36%), security (34%), and the economy (32%). Environmental and climate protection was cited by only 11% as a relevant issue.
Regarding immigration, the AfD is seen as the most capable party: 69% of men and 53% of women believe it has the greatest competence in this area. The CDU lags far behind, with 15% and 23%, respectively.
However, health policy remains an area where the CDU maintains an advantage: 33% of men and 26% of women consider it more competent, compared to 24% and 15% who attribute that to the AfD.
In terms of employment, wages, and taxes, the AfD once again ranks ahead of the CDU. 32% of men and 28% of women believe the patriotic party is more capable, while the CDU scores 21% and 23%, respectively.
