Key facts
- The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party is leading in polls for the Saxony-Anhalt state election.
- A victory for the AfD could result in Germany's first state government led by a far-right party.
- The AfD's proposed policies include significant changes to migration, integration, and education.
- Migrants and minority groups in Saxony-Anhalt express fear of deportation and increased discrimination.
- 80% of people with a migration background are considering leaving Saxony-Anhalt.
- 27.1% of doctors in Saxony-Anhalt hospitals do not have German passports.
Germany is closely watching the upcoming state election in Saxony-Anhalt, where the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party is leading in the polls. An outright victory for the AfD would mark a significant moment, potentially placing a far-right party in state-level power for the first time in the nation's post-war history. This outcome is viewed with serious concern by the AfD's political opponents, while the party itself sees it as a crucial step towards achieving nationwide influence.
The AfD's popularity in its eastern strongholds is fueled by voter frustration with issues such as immigration, public safety, the struggling economy, and high energy costs, as well as aid being sent abroad. The party's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, has been described as charismatic and has faced scrutiny over individuals with neo-Nazi ties holding influential positions around him. Despite these concerns, some voters are drawn to the AfD, believing it offers a chance for radical change or having lost faith in mainstream parties.
If elected, the AfD has proposed controversial policies, including segregating child refugees into special classes, banning LGBT rainbow flags in schools, and teaching less about the Nazis. On immigration, the party plans to establish a task force to detain and deport migrants without the right to remain in the state, and calls for an end to 'illegal, culturally alien' mass migration. These proposals have intensified fears among minority groups and asylum seekers, with reports indicating that 80% of people with a migration background are considering leaving Saxony-Anhalt. Foreign nationals play a crucial role in key sectors, such as healthcare, with 27.1% of doctors in Saxony-Anhalt hospitals lacking German passports.
The AfD's pro-Russia sympathies have also raised concerns about its trustworthiness with sensitive intelligence, particularly in light of recent accusations by Berlin blaming Moscow for a drone attack. German security sources have warned of escalating Russian-backed disinformation campaigns. Other parties have maintained a 'firewall' or 'Brandmauer' policy, refusing to form coalitions with the AfD. Therefore, the AfD would need to secure a parliamentary majority on its own to govern. The election's outcome could also impact the leadership of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has faced criticism and public booing.