The Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, has called for a more serious engagement with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, acknowledging a shifting public perception regarding its electoral viability. In an interview with the weekly newspaper “Die Zeit”, Haseloff stated that the previous reluctance to consider voting for the AfD is diminishing.
“We are noticing nationwide an erosion, a mental shift” he explained. “This historically rooted notion of ‘you mustn’t do that’ is eroding increasingly from the municipal level upwards.
However, Haseloff cautioned against the potential consequences should the AfD gain control of the state government following the legislative elections in autumn 2026. He expressed concerns that an AfD-led government could lead to increased isolation for Saxony-Anhalt. He believes the party would exert its greatest influence in the areas of culture and education, a prospect he views with considerable gravity. “Who wants, as the AfD does, to have nationally-minded teachers from the West educating our children?” he asked. Despite these concerns, Haseloff maintains that an absolute majority for the AfD in the upcoming elections is not yet assured.
Haseloff, a proponent of clear demarcation between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the AfD, described his party as being in a strategic dilemma due to this policy of separation-the so-called “firewall”. He pointed out that a centre-right majority exists within German society, rather than a left-leaning one. “And yet, because of this separation that we want and must maintain, we are pursuing policies in many areas for which there is no majority support in society” he stated. He believes the solution to this lies in strengthening the centre parties to their former levels of influence.
Haseloff has served as Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt since 2011 and announced in early August that he will not seek re-election next year. The CDU intends to nominate its state party leader, Sven Schulze, as his successor. The election is scheduled for September 6th, 2026.
