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 program 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. He further indicated that significant political changes could occur in Germany as a result of this election.
The party's new manifesto spans over 150 pages and contains extensive plans to reform Saxony-Anhalt, including measures to curb immigration and support large families of German descent. It seeks to improve relations with Russia, presenting a clear divergence from the federal government's support for Ukraine.
Siegmund pitched policies advocating for consistent deportations, free childcare, and controversial family incentives, which he claimed were necessary to counter what the party sees as the extinction of the German people. The manifesto criticized LGBTQ+ visibility by proposing a ban on pride flags in schools and denounced what it considered non-reproductive lifestyles.
The party is asserting itself strongly in Saxony-Anhalt—a region with a significant AfD support base—while making gains across the nation, having secured a record performance in the last federal elections. However, the AfD's proposition has sparked significant backlash, with opponents highlighting its authoritarian tendencies and threats to democracy.
This weekend, the AfD officially adopted what has been described as a radical and pro-ethnic German government program 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. He further indicated that significant political changes could occur in Germany as a result of this election.
The party's new manifesto spans over 150 pages and contains extensive plans to reform Saxony-Anhalt, including measures to curb immigration and support large families of German descent. It seeks to improve relations with Russia, presenting a clear divergence from the federal government's support for Ukraine.
Siegmund pitched policies advocating for consistent deportations, free childcare, and controversial family incentives, which he claimed were necessary to counter what the party sees as the extinction of the German people. The manifesto criticized LGBTQ+ visibility by proposing a ban on pride flags in schools and denounced what it considered non-reproductive lifestyles.
The party is asserting itself strongly in Saxony-Anhalt—a region with a significant AfD support base—while making gains across the nation, having secured a record performance in the last federal elections. However, the AfD's proposition has sparked significant backlash, with opponents highlighting its authoritarian tendencies and threats to democracy.
