AfD wins big in eastern German state, but coalition prospects remain uncertain

Exit polls show the AfD capturing 44.5% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, far ahead of Chancellor Merz's conservatives at 18.5%. The party's co-leader called the result historic, but it remains unclear if the AfD can secure a governing majority. Mainstream parties have so far refused to cooperate with the AfD, which is under surveillance for extremism.