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.
- Reports of racist incidents have surged, leading many with migration backgrounds to consider leaving the state.
- Foreign nationals are crucial to key sectors in Saxony-Anhalt, including healthcare.
Minorities in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt are expressing profound anxiety as the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party leads in polls ahead of the upcoming state election. This election could mark Germany's first state government led by the AfD, a party classified as "firmly rightwing extremist" by authorities due to its antisemitic, anti-Islam, and anti-migrant rhetoric.
For individuals like Fatemeh, who fled Iran with her son and awaits a decision on her asylum claim, the prospect of an AfD government raises fears of deportation. She worries that as a converted Christian, returning to Iran could result in the death penalty. The AfD's manifesto for Saxony-Anhalt outlines a drastic shift in migration policy, proposing separate education for refugee children and redirecting integration funds towards "remigration" initiatives.
Undra Dreßler of Lamsa, an organization supporting migrants, reports daily calls from individuals contemplating leaving the state, feeling that the vote is about their fundamental right to exist. The social climate has become increasingly heated, particularly after a Christmas market attack in Magdeburg in late 2024, which rightwing voices used to scapegoat migrants. Reports of racist incidents, including insults and physical attacks, have surged significantly since then.
Students like Kirti from India have also experienced verbal harassment, contributing to a pervasive sense of fear. A recent survey suggests that as many as 80% of people with a migration background in Saxony-Anhalt are considering leaving the state. Ketevan Asatiani-Hermann, from the Advisory Council for Integration and Migration, emphasizes that Saxony-Anhalt's rapidly depopulating economy is dependent on migrants, who constitute about 9% of the state's population and are vital in sectors like healthcare and elder care.
Doctors without German passports make up over a quarter of hospital staff in Saxony-Anhalt, and their departure could lead to critical service disruptions. Paramedic Hamid stressed that the healthcare system would "collapse" without foreign colleagues. Concerns also extend to the AfD's proposed changes to the school curriculum, which Rabbi Igor Mendel Itkin fears could lead to a dangerous forgetting of history.