The AfD’s bid for power in Saxony‑Anhalt steals the spotlight ahead of Germany’s next federal election
Germany’s democracy is on edge this weekend as the far‑right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) positions itself to take a historic first seat in a state parliament. The Saxony‑Anhalt election could be a turning point for the party’s ambitions beyond the national stage.
Saxony‑Anhalt, a former East German state that has long been a stronghold for the AfD, will hold its state parliament elections on 26 September. If the AfD secures a majority, it would become the first far‑right party to control a state legislature since World War II.
Ulrich Siegmund, the party’s charismatic candidate, has topped polling figures in the region. Dubbed “Germany’s most dangerous man” by Der Spiegel, he dismisses accusations that former neo‑Nazi sympathisers play a role in the party. Sigmund’s public appearances feature a mix of nostalgic references to the GDR and sharp critiques of contemporary immigration and safety issues.
The AfD’s manifesto outlines controversial proposals: segregating children of refugees into special classes, banning LGBT symbols in schools, and re‑balancing the curriculum to focus on “positive aspects” of German history rather than Nazi atrocities. The party also pledges a “task‑force” to deport people without legal status and warns of an “illegal, culturally alien” mass migration.
These stances have attracted warnings from German domestic intelligence, who classify the state branch of the AfD as a “racist ideology” and “anti‑constitutional”. Despite that, the party insists it remains “conservative” and rejects any comparison to National Socialism. Some of its supporters are believed to wear T‑shirts emblazoned with the word Arisch, a Nazi‑era term for Aryan.
The stakes are high. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose party the Christian Democrats (CDU) dominate, could find his position weakened if the AfD gains state power and co‑ordinates national policy. As Merz’s popularity falters – voicing disbelief that he could lead the country through the crisis – any move by the AfD will feel more consequential.
Other German parties refuse to form coalitions with the AfD, in what is known as the “Brandmauer” or firewall. Because of that, the AfD might be compelled to win a parliamentary majority outright in order to remain viable. The election therefore centres on whether the firewall can be penetrated or has to be bypassed entirely.
The political calculations are complicated by the overall voting threshold – parties need at least 5 % of the votes to enter the parliament. Experts warn that fragmented votes among smaller parties could either weaken or amplify the AfD’s influence.
A decisive win for the AfD would make it the first state‑level government to challenge the established norms of German democracy. The party would then be forced to confront a choice: govern responsibly or continue to use anti‑establishment rhetoric – a situation it could not previously imagine.
Regardless of the outcome, Saxony‑Anhalt’s ballot box will command national attention and could mean a new chapter for the country’s political landscape.
