BERLIN - Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, scored a landslide victory in Sunday's election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, falling just short of a majority and placing Chancellor Friedrich Merz under renewed pressure.

The result is significant because Germany's established parties have maintained a firewall against cooperation with the AfD, a party whose regional branches are classified as extremist by the country's domestic intelligence agency in some areas. Coalition talks will now determine whether the AfD can turn its electoral strength into control of the state government.

The AfD's share of the vote more than doubled, while support for Merz's Christian Democrats fell by half, according to the Associated Press report. The outcome weakens the chancellor at a time when his government is already confronting economic frustration, the war in Ukraine and disputes over Germany's security relationship with Washington.

AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund said he wanted to lead the first far-right state government in modern Germany. The party would still need support or cooperation from other parties to form a governing majority. A hard-left party that shares some of the AfD's positions on immigration and Russia could play a potential kingmaker role, though major differences remain.

The result could also influence later state elections. It gives the AfD a powerful argument that its support is expanding beyond protest voting, while forcing mainstream parties to decide whether their existing strategy of isolation can contain the party or whether voters are responding to a wider breakdown in confidence.