Following their significant state-election win in eastern Germany, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is closer than ever to governing and plans to launch one of Europe's most ambitious far-right policy experiments this century in Saxony-Anhalt.
The AfD aims to use Saxony-Anhalt as a model for its ideas on immigration, education, culture, and demographics, which would represent a significant departure from the policies of mainstream political parties. AfD leaders have pledged to crack down on migrants and revise school curricula.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's likely leader in Saxony-Anhalt, has outlined a 10-point plan for his first 100 days in office. Despite winning nearly 44% of the vote, the AfD fell short of an absolute majority and is hoping to attract conservative lawmakers to form a government. Their proposals include stricter asylum rules, cutting integration program funding, and excluding non-permanent residents from regular schools. They also plan to establish a "Remigration Task Force" and a voluntary citizen patrol.
The party is advocating for a "180-degree turnaround in migration policy" to reduce immigrant numbers, despite Saxony-Anhalt's long-standing skilled worker shortage, particularly in nursing. To address this, the AfD plans a "return program" with incentives like a "return bonus" for Germans living abroad. Economic researchers, such as Reint Gropp of the Halle Institute for Economic Research, have warned that an AfD government would likely worsen the skilled worker shortage. The state's population has already significantly declined since 1990.
While state governments have limited power over foreign and defense policy, an AfD state premier would wield considerable political influence via the Bundesrat. The AfD's potential success in Saxony-Anhalt could have broader implications for upcoming regional elections and Germany's federal election in 2029, where national polls currently suggest the AfD would win the most votes.
