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 World War Two.
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 the central city of 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.
The whole of Germany is watching this historic election, he told the conference. Parts of Europe are watching this historic election. Parts of the world are watching this historic election, because from here, finally, the political turnaround can also happen here in Germany.
Siegmund emphasized that his party had the courage to address pressing issues, stating, that we don't feel safe anymore, that we scarcely feel at home anymore, that we don't recognize our homeland anymore. He closed with a rallying cry: Let's take back our country.
The more than 150-page programme outlines drastic measures to overhaul Saxony-Anhalt, tightening restrictions on immigration and supporting large families of German origin. The manifesto also directly contradicts the federal government's approach, advocating for improved relations with Russia.
We say yes to consistent deportations, we say yes to free childcare facilities, we say yes to remigration, Siegmund declared. Despite some proposals being impractical without federal action, many others are feasible at the state level.
Critics, including Eva von Angern, leader of the Linke Party in Saxony-Anhalt, condemned the manifesto as a nightmare scenario for the state and a threat to democracy. She warned of the risk of an authoritarian regime curtailing fundamental rights if the AfD gains power.
Historically, Saxony-Anhalt has been a stronghold for the AfD, which recently came second in Germany's federal elections, garnering a record 152 seats in parliament with over 20% of the vote.
The AfD's draft manifesto pushes for a full U-turn on migration policy, calling for measures to halt what it describes as illegal, culturally alien and anti-native mass migration. Additionally, it advocates for the remigration of Ukrainians and other non-German nationals, positioning itself distinctly against the current consensus on immigration in Germany.
As the AfD prepares for the crucial elections in September, public debate intensifies over its controversial policies and the potential implications for the future of democracy and social cohesion in Germany.
