AfD Leads Polls Ahead of Saxony-Anhalt State Election Amid Controversy

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is leading opinion polls ahead of Sunday’s state election in Saxony-Anhalt, with the party at about 41% support compared with 23% for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The state Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the regional arm of Germany’s domestic intelligence service, has labeled the AfD’s Saxony-Anhalt branch a "confirmed far-right extremist" organization, citing statements it says promote an ethnically homogeneous nation and call for the exclusion of people based on origin or religion.

AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund, 35, rejected the intelligence agency’s assessment, accusing it of being used as a political tool against his party. He said that, if elected, the AfD would consider abolishing or restructuring the agency. Siegmund has also been described in a German magazine as a dangerous figure because of his public profile and policy positions.

The party’s platform includes a "deportation and remigration offensive," calling for more detention centres and tighter limits on immigration. It has also faced criticism for remarks that downplay Germany’s historical responsibility for the Nazi era.

Winning the most votes would not automatically give the AfD governing authority; it would need an absolute majority in the state parliament or a coalition partner, which other parties have ruled out. In a recent comparable election in Thuringia, the AfD secured the largest share of seats but was excluded from the governing coalition.

Local residents expressed mixed reactions. Some voiced concern that recent violent incidents have boosted the AfD’s appeal, while others warned that the party’s policies could threaten social cohesion and the teaching of history. The election outcome will determine whether the AfD can translate its poll lead into actual political power in Saxony-Anhalt.