A state election in Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September is poised to make history as polling indicates the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) could secure enough votes to lead a state government for the first time in postwar Germany. The party, classified by authorities as “firmly rightwing extremist” due to its antisemitic, anti-Islam and anti-migrant positions, has pledged to implement hardline policies including deportations beginning immediately upon taking office and separate education for refugee children.
Migrants and religious minorities in the state express deep anxiety about the election’s potential consequences. An Iranian refugee who fled after her son participated in protests faces uncertainty about her asylum status and fears potential deportation could mean execution due to her Christian conversion. Representatives of migrant organizations report receiving daily calls from residents considering whether to relocate elsewhere in Germany, with some estimating that approximately 80% of people with migration backgrounds in the state are considering departure.
Tensions in Saxony-Anhalt have intensified since a 2024 incident when a vehicle was driven into a crowded Christmas market, killing six people. Although authorities characterized the attacker as an anti-Islam activist with far-right sympathies, rightwing political figures leveraged the tragedy to blame migrants for the state’s longstanding economic and demographic challenges. Following the attack, reports of racist harassment and assaults increased dramatically, with one migrant organization documenting as many racist incidents by mid-2025 as occurred throughout all of 2024.
State officials and integration advocates warn of serious economic consequences if the election outcome triggers mass emigration of migrants and foreign nationals. Saxony-Anhalt faces significant demographic challenges, with the highest average age in Germany at 48.2 years and ongoing population decline. Foreign nationals comprise approximately 9% of the state’s population and fill critical roles in healthcare, hospitality and elderly care sectors, with over one-quarter of hospital doctors lacking German citizenship.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI