Saxony-Anhalt is one of Germany's smaller federal states.
But when the AfD - whose local branch in the state is classified as far-right by the German security service - more than doubles its support and becomes by far the largest party, it sends shockwaves through national politics.
It gives the AfD further legitimacy and shows that it is a powerful factor in German politics, a party to be reckoned with, says Ann-Kristin Kölln, professor of political science at the University of Gothenburg.
The electoral success could be a step towards the party starting to normalise in broader circles.
The more voters see a party being normalised by others, the more they begin to perceive it as normal. Although it is a process that of course happens gradually.
Lack of majority
However, the AfD does not get its own majority. The left-wing conservative BSW gets 5.3 percent and just barely passes the threshold.
This creates a very unclear situation in the formation of a new state government. All traditional parties have considered it unthinkable to cooperate with a far-right party.
But even if all of them were to join forces in a coalition - which in itself is unlikely as the Christian Democratic CDU has so far refused to cooperate with the left-wing party Die Linke - a majority is still lacking.
It would be sensational for the CDU, which becomes the second-largest party with 17.2 percent, to blow up the so-called "firewall" against the far right and enter into a coalition with the AfD.
I think that is completely unthinkable at the moment, says Ann-Kristin Kölln.
“Part of the problem”
However, there is a possible, albeit small, opening for a coalition with AfD and BSW.
BSW has not ruled out cooperation with AfD, and in terms of programmes there are certain similarities between the parties, says Ann-Kristin Kölln.
However, the AfD's top name in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, tells Deutsche Welle that BSW is "not part of the solution, but part of the problem."
Even though the far right's successes have a great symbolic impact outside Saxony-Anhalt, the traditional parties nationally are not about to let the AfD into the government, believes Ann-Kristin Kölln.
The discourse has not gone that far in Germany, for historical reasons.
