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 the Second World War.
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 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... because from here, finally, the political turnaround can also happen here in Germany,' he told the conference. He highlighted the party's courage to speak out about feelings of insecurity and alienation among the population.
The manifesto, which is over 150 pages long, contains wide-ranging plans to overhaul Saxony-Anhalt, clamping down on immigrants and supporting large families of German origin. Some proposals appear unworkable at the state level, requiring federal government action, yet many others are feasible.
Critics, including the leader of the left-wing Linke Party in Saxony-Anhalt, described the AfD's plans as a 'nightmare scenario for Saxony-Anhalt and for our democracy.' The party aims to curb immigration and improve relations with Russia, in contrast to the current federal coalition's stance. The manifesto stresses supporting ethnically German families while proposing to relax deportation policies for non-Germans, leading to widespread debate about its implications for German society.
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 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... because from here, finally, the political turnaround can also happen here in Germany,' he told the conference. He highlighted the party's courage to speak out about feelings of insecurity and alienation among the population.
The manifesto, which is over 150 pages long, contains wide-ranging plans to overhaul Saxony-Anhalt, clamping down on immigrants and supporting large families of German origin. Some proposals appear unworkable at the state level, requiring federal government action, yet many others are feasible.
Critics, including the leader of the left-wing Linke Party in Saxony-Anhalt, described the AfD's plans as a 'nightmare scenario for Saxony-Anhalt and for our democracy.' The party aims to curb immigration and improve relations with Russia, in contrast to the current federal coalition's stance. The manifesto stresses supporting ethnically German families while proposing to relax deportation policies for non-Germans, leading to widespread debate about its implications for German society.
