The unprecedented victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the elections in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany may bring an unprecedented political turning point in the history of post-World War II Germany, as the party, which in this state is classified as a confirmed extreme right-wing party, may, for the first time in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, form the state government of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, after recently winning a majority of the seats in the state parliament.
With this electoral progress, widespread discussions escalated in political, media, and security circles about the fate of sensitive military information that is usually made available to German state governments, especially in light of the declared positions of a number of party leaders described as close to Russia and critical of the policies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
"German Operations Plan"... the document that sparked the controversy
The controversy centers around what is known as the "Operationsplan Deutschland", a top-secret document exceeding a thousand pages, which includes the basic arrangements for national defense and common defense with NATO in cases of crises or wars.
According to what was reported by German media, including German Channel 2 (ZDF) and the "Spiegel Online" website, the plan contains information related to the movements of military forces, logistical paths, and allied support mechanisms, in addition to the pivotal role that Germany plays as a major transit center for NATO forces towards the Eastern Front in the event of a confrontation with Russia.
A copy of this plan is available from the sixteen German state governments.
Calls to withdraw the document from the state
In this context, the "Nachrichten Identity" network quoted Bastian Ernst, head of the German Army Reserve Forces Union and a representative in the Bundestag for the Christian Democratic Union party, as demanding that the "German Operations Plan" be restored from the headquarters of the state government of Saxony-Anhalt if the Alternative for Germany party takes power in Magdeburg, the state capital.
“The AfD represents a great danger to our country,” Ernst told the German Liberation Network (RND).
He added: “If the party takes power in Saxony-Anhalt, the German operational plan and other relevant information will almost certainly leak to Russia. "The plan must therefore be restored from Saxony-Anhalt."
Ernst suggested an alternative solution, which is to permanently deposit the plan with the German Ministry of Defense, so that it is not permitted to be viewed except with prior permission, noting that in cases of war, the federal government has broader powers in dealing with the states and managing defense files.
More political concerns than proven accusations
These concerns are based on the repeated criticism directed at the AfD over its position on Russia and its objection to some NATO policies and Western support for Ukraine.
A number of experts believe that the party's access to executive positions may raise questions about the level of protection of secret military information, even in the absence of any direct evidence of the possibility of an actual leak of that information.
According to the German Liberation Network, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who belongs to the Social Democratic Party, during a meeting with defense experts from the ruling coalition parties in Berlin, expressed his support for the possibility of restoring the plan from the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Constitutional problems and counter-criticisms
On the other hand, critics of these proposals warn that depriving a democratically elected government of access to official information may raise legal and constitutional questions, and may also reflect a high level of mistrust between state institutions.
However, a number of officials believe that the sensitivity of military documents justifies keeping them centrally within the Ministry of Defense, with special restrictions imposed on the mechanisms for accessing them.
The Alternative Party's position on the accusations
For its part, the Alternative for Germany party repeatedly rejects accusations linking it to Russia or portraying it as a threat to German national security, and considers that such accusations are being used politically to isolate it by traditional parties. The party asserts that it calls for a more pragmatic policy towards Moscow and for rebuilding diplomatic and economic relations with it.
While his opponents believe that these positions are in the interest of the Kremlin. The party also opposes some aspects of NATO policy and broad military support for Ukraine, but at the same time stresses that it operates within the German constitutional framework and represents a segment of the German electorate.
Preparations to face a scenario of non-cooperation
Today, Monday (September 14, 2026), the Spiegel Online website quoted a statement from Die Welt newspaper, which it reported two months ago, that a number of federal ministries are studying measures to ensure the continuation of military movement and logistical support plans even in the event that a particular state government does not cooperate with the required defense arrangements.
In this context, the defense expert in the Christian Democratic Union Party, Roderich Kisevetter, told the newspaper at the time (last July) that the Kremlin was seeking to exploit divisions within Germany over Russia to make the country “as less reliable as possible” as a logistical center for NATO. Reports also indicated that officials in the Federal Ministry of Interior are considering countermeasures to deal with state governments that may oppose some security and military arrangements.
A dilemma between democracy and national security
This case reveals the extent of anxiety prevailing in German security circles in light of the ongoing tension with Russia. It also reflects the complex challenge faced by Western democracies in balancing respect for voters’ choices and election results on the one hand, and ensuring the protection of national security secrets and military obligations towards allies on the other hand.
In conclusion, analyzes by German media outlets, including the RTL channel, indicate that the essence of the accusations currently being raised against the AfD party are based on political and security expectations and fears related to its positions on Russia, and not on documented facts proving the occurrence of an actual leak of confidential information by the party so far.
Reviewed by: Abdo Jamil Al-Mekhlafi
