Next Saxony state election

The 2024 Saxony state election was won by the CDU with a narrow lead over the AfD. Only the CDU secured a blocking minority. Both parties received just over 30% of the votes (CDU 31.9%, AfD 30.6%). The BSW followed at a considerable distance, achieving 11.8% of the vote in its first-ever participation in a state election. All parties previously involved in the state government until 2024 — CDU, SPD, and Greens — recorded losses. The SPD achieved its worst result in Saxony with 7.3%. The Greens barely cleared the 5% threshold with 5.1%. The Left lost more than half of its voters and entered the state parliament only through two direct mandates in Leipzig via the basic mandate clause. The Free Voters and Free Saxons performed similarly with 2.3% and 2.2%, respectively. Although the Free Voters clearly missed the 5% hurdle, they entered the 8th Saxon State Parliament with one candidate thanks to a direct mandate. The FDP landed at 0.9%, behind even the Animal Protection Party (1.0%), marking its worst result in any German state election to date. In addition to the parties mentioned, nine other lists competed in 2024.^[1]

Since the Minister-President election on 18 December 2024, Saxony has been governed by the Kretschmer III cabinet, a minority coalition of the CDU and SPD (51 out of 120 seats) without a fixed tolerance partner. The government relies on case-by-case negotiations and a consultation mechanism with opposition parties (especially the BSW, Greens, and Left) to secure majorities.^[2]