Key facts
- Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party could elect its first state governor since World War II in Saxony-Anhalt.
- The AfD aims to use this potential victory as a platform for national power.
- The party plans to implement radical changes while balancing broad appeal, including a 'deportation task force' and curriculum adjustments.
- AfD intends to fill approximately 200 civil service positions with party loyalists through initiatives like the 'Black-Red-Gold Academy'.
- Domestic intelligence authorities have designated the AfD's Saxony-Anhalt branch as an extremist organization.
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is positioning itself for a potential historic victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, which could lead to the election of the country's first far-right state governor since World War II. Leaders view this election, scheduled for September 6, 2026, as a crucial opportunity to gain governing power and dismantle the firewall that mainstream parties have maintained against them.
Ulrich Siegmund, the charismatic face of the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, has rallied supporters, suggesting the state's election could be the beginning of a significant political shift. The party's strategy for governing, should they win a majority, involves a delicate balance of pursuing radical changes to distinguish themselves from the establishment while avoiding alienating moderate voters. This includes plans for a "deportation task force" and adjustments to educational curricula, alongside more conventional policies like increased funding for fire departments.
To facilitate the execution of their agenda, the AfD plans to fill approximately 200 positions within the state's civil service with party loyalists, a move unprecedented in postwar Germany's apolitical civil service tradition. This effort is supported by initiatives like the "Black-Red-Gold Academy," designed to train and place party members in key administrative roles. Despite domestic intelligence authorities designating the AfD's Saxony-Anhalt branch as an extremist organization, the party believes a successful governance in the state will destigmatize their platform and persuade more citizens to vote for them, potentially influencing national politics and challenging Chancellor Friedrich Merz's stance against coalition with the AfD.
Policies outlined in the AfD's 100-day program, such as reducing funding for public broadcasters and detaining asylum-seekers, are expected to face legal challenges and opposition. However, the party is prepared with plans to counter such efforts and aims to demonstrate stable yet swift change, believing it will legitimize their policies and improve conditions for citizens.