Federal Commissioner for Eastern Germany, Elisabeth Kaiser of the SPD, has cautioned voters in Saxony-Anhalt regarding the potential consequences of an AfD-led government following the next state election. Addressing the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” Kaiser urged citizens to carefully consider “the dangers that such an outcome would entail.
She drew parallels to developments in other European nations where authoritarian politicians have gained power, pointing to restrictions on press and freedom of expression and attacks on the independence of the judiciary. Kaiser emphasized the importance of critically evaluating simple solutions to complex problems and highlighted the necessity of an open and welcoming societal climate for both inward and outward migration, crucial for the region’s positive development.
Rather than solely focusing on the AfD, Kaiser stressed the importance of fostering spaces for constructive debate about the future of the nation. Acknowledging public anxieties surrounding international crises, she noted that no government, regardless of political affiliation, can immediately resolve these challenges. The Commissioner concluded by emphasizing the lasting impact of individual votes and encouraging citizens to carefully evaluate which parties they entrust with shaping the nation’s future.
Recent polling in Saxony-Anhalt, which will elect a new state parliament in September 2026, indicates that the AfD currently holds 39 percent of potential votes, significantly ahead of the CDU at 27 percent and all other parties.
