The political landscape in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt has been transformed following Sunday's state election, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured a landslide victory. The party captured nearly 43.8 percent of the vote, marking the first time since the end of World War II that a party classified by Germany's domestic intelligence agency as a "confirmed right-wing extremist" entity could potentially govern a state.
Out of a total population of 2.14 million, approximately 1.3 million residents participated in the election.
While AfD supporters celebrated the outcome, the mood among other residents and opposition groups is one of apprehension. The Green party, which had been polling at five to six percent, outperformed expectations by securing nine percent of the vote statewide. In the city of Magdeburg, the Greens achieved an even stronger result, finishing second with 16.5 percent of the vote, behind the AfD's 32.6 percent.
Josephin Winkler, a board member for the Greens in Magdeburg, described the results as a mix of encouragement and deep distress regarding the decline in support for other democratic parties. "We all had a tear in the eye from joy and also from anger and fear," she said. Winkler highlighted significant concerns regarding the potential for CDU representatives to defect to the AfD.
Because the AfD narrowly missed an absolute majority, they only need to convince three additional members of the Landtag to join them to form a single-party government. Winkler noted that the party is pessimistic about this possibility, citing past instances where some CDU members showed sympathy toward the AfD.
The election has sparked widespread anxiety among citizens. Klaus, an 80-year-old resident, expressed his fears to the news site 20 Minuten, stating that he believes Germany is "moving closer to 1933." He added, "People haven’t learnt anything from the past. I don’t want to go through that again.
I don’t want my grandchild to grow up in a fascist world." While he noted that the rhetoric of lead AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund might appear more moderate than that of high-profile figures like Björn Höcke or Tino Chrupalla, he characterized it as "hidden fascism."
The impact of the election is already affecting the daily lives and safety of residents. Winkler admitted that she is currently hesitant to wear her Magdeburg Greens T-shirt in public. She expressed particular concern for minority groups, including the LGBTQ community and individuals with an immigration background, noting that some members of these groups are already considering leaving the state.
"We have some members that clearly said, 'Okay, if the AfD wins, I will have to move,'" Winkler stated. Despite these fears, the Green party remains committed to continuing its opposition to right-wing extremism in the region.
"It's clear that the AfD does not necessarily need to make a coalition with another party. They just need to convince three people to join them, and that's worrying."
"But I'm more worried for all the people who look foreign."
