The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Alice Weidel believes her party has a clear mandate to form a government in Saxony-Anhalt.
"This is a historic result and it is a very clear mandate to form a government," Weidel told public broadcaster ZDF following the first projections for the state election.
Lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund had made it clear before the election that he would only form a government if the AfD had enough seats to govern alone.
Weidel, however, emphasized: "The strongest party always has the mandate to form a government."
She added that Siegmund had always said the AfD would offer to hold talks. "We always have our hand outstretched so that we can help secure good policies for a better Germany and, above all, for a better Saxony-Anhalt."