Elections In Saxony-Anhalt: Can The AfD Take Power?
- 6.09.2026, 13:43
The outcome of the vote could prove to be a landmark moment for German federal politics as a whole.
On Sunday, September 6, state parliamentary elections—the Landtag—are being held in Saxony-Anhalt. Polling stations are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The first exit polls will be published immediately after the polls close.
These elections are considered one of the most important regional political events of the year in Germany, as their outcome could be significant not only for the eastern states but also for federal politics as a whole, according to "Deutsche Welle".
The far-right AfD could win more than 40 percent of the vote
According to the latest polls, the far-right party “Alternative for Germany” (AfD) has a chance to become the clear leader in state elections for the first time and even come close to forming a government on its own. About 41–42% of voters are ready to vote for the AfD, which is more than double the party’s result in the 2021 elections. In Saxony-Anhalt, the local AfD chapter is officially classified as far-right by the state’s constitutional protection agencies.
The party’s lead candidate in the election is Ulrich Siegmund (Ulrich Siegmund). The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt advocates for radical changes in migration and cultural policy—particularly in education policy. For example, asylum seekers and refugees would be required to work, and the party aims to increase the number of undocumented immigrants deported. In terms of education policy, the AfD plans, among other things, to abolish compulsory education and allow homeschooling. Commentators describe the continuation of Russian language instruction in schools and the resumption of school exchanges as more of a symbolic gesture.
Foreign policy does not fall under the jurisdiction of the federal states, but once the AfD comes to power, it may gain the opportunity—through the Bundesrat, the representative body of the states in the German parliament—to advocate for the lifting of sanctions against Russia, as it states in its platform.
One of the most radical steps could be withdrawing from the state broadcasting agreement. This unprecedented move could deal a serious blow to the public-service broadcaster MDR, which operates in and is funded by several federal states in eastern Germany.
Christian Democrats Have Lost Voters’ Trust
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), which has effectively dominated state politics for most of the past decades, is now in second place. Polls show the party with about 22–24% of the vote. This is significantly lower than the 2021 result, when the CDU garnered more than 37%.
The party is focusing on issues of internal security, support for the economy, vocational education, and stricter control over illegal migration.