Fears rise in Saxony-Anhalt ahead of vote that could bring Germany's first far-right state government
Sunday's state election in Saxony-Anhalt could produce Germany's first postwar far-right-led state government, with polls putting the AfD in the lead. Migrants, Muslims and Jewish community members say they fear for their safety and future in the state.
Voters in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt go to the polls on Sunday in an election that could hand the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) its first state government in postwar Germany. Polls suggest the party, already classified by authorities as 'firmly rightwing extremist', is on track to win the most votes, though it remains unclear whether it could govern alone.
The AfD's manifesto for the state promises a sweeping overhaul of migration policy, including separate schooling for refugee children, redirecting integration funding toward 'remigration' efforts, and pushing federal officials to stop recognising Ukrainians as war refugees. The party has also pledged to begin deportations 'from day one' if it takes power.
The prospect has left many migrants deeply anxious, including asylum seekers from Iran who fear being sent back to a country where conversion to Christianity or political dissent can carry severe punishment. Organisations supporting migrants report a sharp rise in racist incidents since a deadly attack on a Magdeburg Christmas market in December 2024, which killed six people. One survey found up to 80% of people with a migration background in the state are considering leaving.
Saxony-Anhalt is among Germany's most rapidly depopulating states and has the country's highest average age. Foreign nationals, who make up roughly 9% of its population, play an outsized role in sectors like healthcare and hospitality — more than a quarter of hospital doctors in the state lack a German passport, according to the state medical association.
The AfD has also proposed curriculum changes that would reduce emphasis on the Nazi era and the Holocaust. Members of Magdeburg's Jewish community say they fear the implications of an AfD government, even though the party's manifesto does not explicitly mention Jews, focusing instead on restricting the influence of Islam. Many worry that a win in Saxony-Anhalt could embolden the far right elsewhere in Germany.
