Germany's AfD calls for parties to work with it after Saxony-Anhalt win - BBC News

The far-right party is trying to form a government in the state after falling three seats short of a majority.

Image source, ReutersImage caption, Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's leader in Saxony-Anhalt, says the result is a "clear mandate to govern"

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is "very, very close" to taking power in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, its deputy parliamentary leader has told the BBC, after a historic victory in elections there.

Sunday's preliminary results show it fell three seats short of an outright majority, with 43.8% of the vote. It is now seeking support from other parties or individuals in order to govern.

While most German political parties refuse to work with the AfD, Beatrix von Storch called for its opponents to enter talks and said: "You cannot say, I do not accept the vote of the people".

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was "deeply shocked" by the result, describing it as "seismic... not just in the country but also in my own political party and I take that very seriously".