Ulrich Siegmund, lead candidate for the far-right AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, said on Sunday that his party would reach out to all powers that wish to pursue a better politics. "We will always extend a hand if there is another political force here with which we can tackle the fundamental problems in this country," Siegmund said after exit polls showed his party at 44.5 per cent. Topics including migration and domestic security were non-negotiable, he said. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged into first place in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, exit polls showed, putting a far-right party on the cusp of power at state level for the first time since World War Two. The AfD won 44.5 per cent of the vote, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives trailing well behind on 18.5 per cent, and the centre-left Social Democrats and environmental Greens both clearing the minimum threshold to enter parliament, according to an exit poll from the ARD broadcaster. "We have made history," said Siegmund, the 35-year-old AfD lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, who drew thousands to his campaign rallies and who repeatedly cast victory in the state as a first step towards securing national power in federal elections due in 2029. The result marks a major advance in the AfD's push for national power and a significant setback for Merz's coalition government, although it remained unclear whether the party would be able to form a state government. Turnout was around 76 per cent, well above levels typically seen in state elections. For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc Follow Global News on X HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt Follow Global News on TikTok HERE: https://www.tiktok.com/@globalnews.ca?lang=en #GlobalNews