The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has won the regional election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, preliminary results show, putting the party on the cusp of power at state level for the first time since World War Two.

The AfD secured 43.8% of the vote, translating into approximately 39 seats in the 83-seat state parliament in Magdeburg. The party fell three seats short of the 42 needed for an outright majority.

The party is now seeking support from other parties or individuals in order to govern. AfD deputy parliamentary leader Beatrix von Storch told the BBC the party was "very, very close" to taking power.

"You cannot say I do not accept the vote of the people," von Storch said, calling on opponents to enter talks. She warned that if parties refused to cooperate with the AfD, "then we might end up in severe chaos and maybe we have a new election."

AfD's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, 35, told a news conference on Monday that the party had won a "clear mandate to govern." The state's outgoing premier, CDU's Sven Schulze, also acknowledged that the mandate to govern "now lies with the AfD."

Siegmund said discussions with other parties began on Sunday night and could take days or weeks to conclude. "We reach out to everybody first, we will have consultations and then we'll see whether [there are] individual parliamentary groups or MPs who would be willing to help us," he said.

One option being considered is informal support from the left-wing populist BSW party, which is set to win five seats and shares the AfD's tough stance on immigration. Another theoretical possibility is a minority coalition led by the CDU, though that is considered unlikely. A fresh election has also been raised as a potential outcome.

Von Storch said the AfD was in contact with individual CDU members who were "very, very unhappy with their own party."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the result as "seismic... not just in the country but also in my own political party," adding that he was "deeply shocked." His CDU saw its share of the vote almost halved to 17.2% in the state. Merz called it the worst CDU result "in years, if not decades" and said the country needed "profound reforms."

The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt has been classified as "right-wing extremist" by domestic intelligence services, a designation Siegmund rejects. The party's plans for the state include segregating child refugees into separate classes and establishing a task force to detain and deport migrants without legal right to remain. The AfD also advocates a policy widely referred to as "remigration," which critics interpret as mass deportations, though the party says it refers only to deporting criminals and those in the country illegally.

Saxony-Anhalt has a population of approximately 2.1 million. No far-right party has governed a German state since World War Two. Control at state level would grant powers over policing and local education.

The AfD also won the 2024 state election in neighbouring Thuringia but failed to secure enough seats to form a government. The party currently leads national opinion polls ahead of Merz's conservatives and the Social Democrats, with its strongest support concentrated in eastern states.

The result drew sharp reactions across Europe and beyond.

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure described the AfD victory as a "very, very worrying signal" for Europe, saying the continent faces "a major challenge in the face of a populist wave." French European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad called it "a very grave moment for Europe," adding that "nationalism and xenophobia will never be the answer."

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X: "In Poland, only idiots or traitors could rejoice the AfD triumph in Germany." Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski called the near-majority "a very worrying sign."

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the result as "a warning" of a broader political shift, saying the far right was "gaining ground in Europe and the world" due largely to "the surrender of the traditional right."

Far-right leaders across Europe welcomed the outcome. Santiago Abascal of Spain's Vox party congratulated AfD co-leader Alice Weidel and Siegmund, calling the result "great hope for Germany and Europe." Andre Ventura of Portugal's Chega party called it "an historic victory." Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called it "a huge night for Germany and Europe" and said "this is just the beginning."

Businessman Elon Musk posted "Gut gemacht!" — German for "well done" — on X. Siegmund personally thanked Musk for his "support" and "clear and highly important perspective." Former US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell called it "a huge win and a new day for Germany." Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, described Siegmund as the "voice of reason."

The result has drawn attention across Europe, including in France, where national elections next year could see far-right candidate Marine Le Pen contest the presidency.