The AfD is making a strong final push in Saxony-Anhalt ahead of Sunday’s state election, with lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund hoping to take the far-right party into government for the first time at state level in Germany’s post-war history.
The 35-year-old Siegmund has attracted large crowds during the campaign. Supporters have lined up for photographs with him at events across the eastern German state. His strong presence on TikTok has also helped turn him into one of the AfD’s most recognizable campaign figures in the region.
Siegmund says he wants to reshape migration policy and redirect public spending toward what he describes as Germany’s national interests. He has also promised several measures during his first 100 days in office. They include a proposed work requirement for asylum seekers, changes involving fire service driving licences and greater use of German flags in schools.
Thousands Attend AfD Campaign Festival
Thousands of supporters gathered near Magdeburg’s city centre for an event the AfD called a “family festival.” Siegmund’s face appeared on T-shirts and campaign signs across the crowd.
Supporters repeatedly chanted slogans associated with the party and Germany’s political history. Music and techno performances filled the gaps between speeches, creating a festival-like atmosphere.
Senior AfD figures also appeared at the event. Thuringian politician Stephan Brandner and party co-chair Tino Chrupalla addressed the crowd. Supporters booed and whistled when speakers mentioned the CDU, SPD and other political parties.
Heavy rain did little to discourage the crowd. Many remained in place while waiting for Siegmund to appear.
For supporters such as Gerda, who travelled from Berlin for the event, the election represents an opportunity for a major political shift. She told Euronews that she supports Siegmund’s approach to crime and migration. She used a pseudonym because she feared possible consequences from publicly identifying herself.
AfD Leads Polls Ahead of Vote
Recent polling has put the AfD well ahead of its main rivals. A poll conducted by Forschungsgruppe Wahlen for ZDF placed the party at about 41%, while the CDU stood at 23%. The Left was third at around 11.5%.
The figures represent a major change from the 2021 election. The AfD received 20.8% of the vote at that time, while the CDU won 37.1%.
A strong result on Sunday could put the AfD in a position to lead the next state government. However, winning the largest share of votes does not automatically guarantee control of the government.
The AfD has ruled out forming a coalition with the CDU. The CDU has also rejected cooperation with the AfD under its formal incompatibility policy, often described as a political “firewall.”
Coalition Talks Could Become Complicated
The election could leave Saxony-Anhalt facing a difficult coalition puzzle. The AfD may win the most votes but still lack enough seats to govern alone.
The BSW has indicated that it could potentially tolerate an AfD-led government without formally joining it. However, the party has been polling below the five-percent threshold required to enter the state parliament.
The SPD and Greens have also faced uncertainty over the threshold. Recent figures put the SPD at around 8.5% and the Greens at about 6%.
CDU politician Dennis Radtke has strongly opposed cooperation with the AfD. He warned on ZDF’s Maybrit Illner that bringing the AfD into government would seriously damage the CDU.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also ruled out cooperation with both the AfD and the Left. He said the political differences between those parties and the CDU were too fundamental for collaboration.
Meanwhile, Left Party candidate Eva von Angern says the political atmosphere in the state has become increasingly hostile. She argues that political tensions inside the state parliament have spilled into wider society and social media.
Despite the AfD’s strong polling numbers, von Angern remains optimistic about the election. She said she believes voters will reject a single-party AfD government and support what she described as a more diverse future for Saxony-Anhalt.
