🕒 Created

Ulrich Siegmund leads the Alternative für Deutschland party toward a potential historic first far-right state government in Saxony-Anhalt

The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party is seeking an absolute majority in the regional parliament of Saxony-Anhalt, a victory that would mark the first time a far-right party has held state-level power in Germany since the end of the second world war. The party, which has evolved from a Eurosceptic movement into an anti-immigrant, Moscow-friendly organization, aims to bypass the traditional 'firewall' that prevents mainstream parties from forming coalitions with it. Ulrich Siegmund, the party's lead candidate, is a photogenic 36-year-old who has gained significant popularity among voters frustrated by economic stagnation, high energy costs, and mass migration. If the AfD secures a majority, it plans to implement several cultural and educational reforms, including replacing rainbow flags with German flags in schools, allowing home schooling, and placing refugee children in separate classes. The election results could also impact federal politics, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces potential setbacks if the far-right party takes power in the state. The AfD's success in Saxony-Anhalt is seen as a springboard for the party's ambitions at the next federal election in 2029.

Sources

Paywall and unreadable sources