The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is leading in opinion polls ahead of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. Ulrich Siegmund, the 35-year-old AfD candidate for governor, could become the first far-right leader of a German state government since World War II. Recent surveys show the AfD polling at 41%, while the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz stands at 23%.
The AfD was founded in 2013 as a protest movement against the European Union but has moved toward a platform centered on nationalistic and anti-immigration policies. Since 2023, the state Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified the Saxony-Anhalt branch of the AfD as a "confirmed far-right extremist" organization. The agency states the party's positions violate constitutional principles and include racist, anti-Muslim, and antisemitic rhetoric. Siegmund has rejected these assessments, characterizing the intelligence agency as a "political instrument" used against the opposition.
The AfD's platform in Saxony-Anhalt includes a "remigration" plan to expel asylum seekers and non-citizens, as well as German nationals with immigrant backgrounds who the party deems have failed to assimilate. The party also proposes replacing "culturally foreign" healthcare workers, alleging they endanger patients. During the campaign, Siegmund has utilized social media platforms like TikTok to reach voters, emphasizing a "can-do" optimistic tone that contrasts with the rhetoric of other party members, according to local observers.
For ordinary citizens, a win could result in changes to the healthcare system, as the AfD seeks to replace foreign doctors and nurses with domestic workers. Additionally, Siegmund has stated he would consider abolishing or restructuring the state intelligence agency that currently monitors his party for extremism. Residents may also see changes in education; some voters expressed concern that the AfD would alter how the history of the Nazi era and the Holocaust is taught in local schools.
The election results on Sunday will set a precedent for German federal politics, where the AfD is also polling in first place. However, even if the AfD wins the most votes, they may be blocked from power if they fail to reach an absolute majority. Other major political parties have stated they will not enter a coalition with the AfD, potentially leading to a situation similar to the 2024 election in Thuringia, where the AfD won the most seats but was excluded from the administration by a coalition of other parties. The final vote count will be determined following the close of polls on Sept. 6.