Can the AfD form a government in Saxony-Anhalt?

Following its record election success, the far-right Alternative for Germany aims to form a government. What options does it have without a majority?

BSW (a left-populist party) invited talks to see if it and AfD (a right-populist) can form a majority coalition. The two parties share some things and are opposed on some things. They are on the same side of the political spectrum on immigration and preserving the social safety net for Germans. They both oppose financial aid to Ukraine and they both prefer national and local government versus central government and globalization. So far, sounds like a lot of common ground, correct?

Internally, BSW has some members who would be conflicted by BSW joining with AfD. I'm sorry, these members aren't realistic. There's a time and place for bold positions. There's also a time and place for pragmatic compromise. I say "don't let perfection be the enemy of progress."

We, in America, are sick and tired of politicians ONLY giving us lip-service. If they would at least PARTIALLY deliver on their campaign promises, we can be patient. Look at how frustrating it has been for Trump. On the other hand, through the Big Beautiful Bill and in other ways, we have gotten a lot done. That's what AfD and BSW have to see. The progress we can make by working together; instead of seeing only the compromises.

The big problem is BSW is communist and the AfD is free-market. Now, a strategic thinker for the BSW could probably recognize that a free market government is better for their cause than a statist-but-corporatist government. That’s way too much to ask in bipolar USA, but Germany? After all, they are far-sighted enough to realize that immigration and pan-Europeanism also hurts their ideals strategically.

Are you confusing BSW with the Left Party? The Left Party is indeed a communist party. BSW is a left-populist party, which is similar in some ways and different in other ways.

To be sure, BSW is on the left side of the political spectrum when it comes to economics (and it will be interesting to see if and how differences on economics are worked out). But, BSW is all over the place on immigration, foreign policy and social policy.

The following article has a good summary of the issues involved in AfD-BSW cooperation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahra_Wagenknecht_Alliance

Politics makes for strange bedfellows. It's a given that the center right in Germany would prefer to make a coalition with the center left than with AfD (since the difference between the center left and right in Germany is really negligible - was there really much difference between an Angela Merkel and a Gerhard Schroeder)?

On the other hand, I doubt an alliance between AfD and a far left party would work, it would be like National Rally in France trying to build an alliance with the Communists.

AfD will eventually have enough support to build its own government, perhaps in coalition with other right wing (or at least nationalist) parties.

Berlin will drop the “you’re a Nazi” hammer and ban the whole party. Merkel did that when I lived in Leipzig. She didn’t like AfD winning so she just declared the election void and made sure one of her puppets was installed. Merz is cut from the same German hating muzzie loving commie cloth.

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