The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party is riding high in the opinion polls in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt and could win an outright majority in regional elections there in September. It would be the first time a far-right party has held power in a German state since the Second World War.
This weekend the AfD officially adopted what has been described as a radical and pro-ethnic German government programme for Saxony-Anhalt at a party conference in Magdeburg. The AfD's leading candidate in the state, Ulrich Siegmund, a TikTok star who was given a standing ovation by the delegates, said it was a historic moment, not just for Saxony-Anhalt.
Siegmund stated, The whole of Germany is watching this historic election. Parts of Europe are watching this historic election... because from here, finally, the political turnaround can also happen here in Germany. He emphasized the party's aim to address safety concerns and a sense of losing national identity, calling for a reclamation of the country.
The manifesto outlines a broad agenda for Saxony-Anhalt, including stringent immigration policies and support for large ethnic German families. It contradicts the federal government's stance on Russia by advocating for improved relations, clashing directly with pro-Ukrainian policies.
Proposals include consistent deportations, free childcare for ethnic German families, and the controversial push for remigration of non-German backgrounds. Critics, including Eva von Angern from the left-wing Linke Party, have denounced the AfD's plans as a nightmare scenario for Saxony-Anhalt and for our democracy, suggesting it promotes an authoritarian state that threatens fundamental rights.
As the AfD consolidates its power, the state of Saxony-Anhalt, historically a bastion for the party, braces for a potentially transformative election, spurring nationwide debate on the implications of a far-right dominant government.
