Key facts
- An election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, on Sunday could lead to the first far-right state governor in the country's post-WWII history.
- Polls show the anti-migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party with a significant lead.
- The AfD's candidate for governor, Ulrich Siegmund, has prioritized deportations and reducing social system incentives for immigrants.
- Incumbent governor Sven Schulze stated that an AfD government would result in isolation for the state.
- The AfD's regional branch is classified by domestic intelligence as a proven right-wing extremist group.
An election in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday could see the anti-migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secure its biggest prize to date: control of a state government and potentially its first far-right state governor. Polls indicate a substantial lead for the AfD, which achieved its best postwar showing nationally last year.
Political scientists note that such a victory would break a significant taboo in modern Germany, which has historically avoided having radical right-wing parties govern at any level. The AfD's regional branch in Saxony-Anhalt is classified by domestic intelligence as a proven right-wing extremist group, though the party vehemently rejects these accusations.
AfD's candidate for governor, Ulrich Siegmund, has stated that the party sees a "historic opportunity" and aims to implement policies such as increased deportations and reducing incentives for people to "exploit our social system." He also expressed a desire to withdraw the state from regional public broadcasting and allow home schooling.
However, incumbent governor Sven Schulze of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has warned that an AfD government would lead to "isolation" for the state and that the party "doesn't want to have anyone here who was born abroad." Schulze stated he would not work with the AfD and that his own party is "100%" behind him.
Even if the AfD emerges as the strongest party, its ability to form a government remains uncertain if it does not win an absolute majority, as mainstream parties have largely refused to form coalitions with them. This could lead to a situation where the CDU attempts to form a coalition with smaller parties to its left.
The election outcome could also impact Chancellor Merz's national government, particularly if his CDU performs poorly in subsequent elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. A significant loss of votes would amplify the narrative of declining traditional parties, especially as Merz's government has struggled to demonstrate visible successes in reforming Germany's economy.