AI-generated summary
Friedrich Merz hatte einst das Ziel, die AfD zu halbieren. In Sachsen-Anhalt steht die Partei nun vor einem möglichen historischen Wahlerfolg und könnte sogar die Regierung stellen, obwohl sie keine eigene Mehrheit erreichen würde.
Friedrich Merz wollte die AfD einst halbieren – in Sachsen-Anhalt steht sie nun vor einem historischen Wahlerfolg und könnte im Zweifel sogar die Regierung übernehmen. Was ist der Grund für den Vormarsch der Populisten? Wie viel Verantwortung trägt die Bundesregierung für den Aufstieg der AfD? Und was passiert, wenn die Partei zwar stärkste Kraft wird, aber keine eigene Mehrheit erreicht?
Am Roundtable von Das Politikteil diskutieren die vier Hosts die Folgen eines möglichen Wahlsiegs der AfD für das Land und für die Demokratie. Es geht zudem um mögliche Bündnisse, den Umgang der Union mit der AfD und die Frage, ob sich die AfD in Regierungsverantwortung womöglich entzaubern würde.
Jeden ersten Freitag im Monat treffen sich die Hosts von »Das Politikteil« am runden Tisch, erstmals ist die Folge auf zeit.de auch als Videopodcast abrufbar. Am Tisch sitzen Peter Dausend, Ileana Grabitz, Tina Hildebrandt und Heinrich Wefing.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Die AfD wird bei der Wahl in Sachsen-Anhalt die stärkste Kraft werden.
Likely · Within weeks
Die AfD wird trotz möglicher Stärkkeit keine eigene Mehrheit erreichen.
Likely · Within weeks

Germany has closed the Russian consulate general in Bonn, depriving Moscow of an important diplomatic and intelligence base. The former Russian embassy in Bonn served the Putin government as a control center and base for secret service operations.

Before the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6th, according to the survey, the AfD is well ahead of the CDU (22 percent) with 42 percent. The Left follows with eleven percent, the SPD with eight percent and the Greens with six percent. There is great dissatisfaction with the government; only three out of ten rate the coalition positively. Sven Schulze (CDU) received a positive rating from 30 percent, Ulrich Siegmund (AfD) from 37 percent. When it comes to the direct election of the Prime Minister, Schulze and Siegmund are almost on a par with 41 and 39 percent respectively. The economy is in a tense mood, with only one in five companies rating their situation as good.
According to surveys, the AfD is expected to be the strongest force in the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt with around 41 percent, while the CDU is in second place with 23 percent. An absolute majority for the AfD seems unlikely, and forming a government is difficult, as neither a clear AfD majority nor a stable coalition without the Left is foreseeable. Thousands are expected to demonstrate for democracy in Magdeburg and Halle.
Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke advises the SPD to take a clear stance and focus on the hard-working middle in view of weak poll numbers. He emphasizes that the party must set its own priorities and show visible results, while warning of an absolute majority for the AfD ahead of the election in Saxony-Anhalt.

According to surveys, the AfD is expected to be the strongest force in the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt with around 41 percent, but an absolute majority seems unlikely. The CDU is in second place with 23 percent, while the Left, SPD and Greens could make it into parliament. Forming a government is difficult because neither an AfD majority nor a center coalition is likely without the Left.
In Spain, pressure is growing on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez following the arrival of over 70,000 people from Morocco in the Ceuta exclave, with around 5,000 remaining there, including 1,500 minors. The opposition is calling for his resignation and new elections. At the same time, the EU Commission is planning to simplify international rail travel through standardized tickets and passenger rights, but this has been criticized by the rail industry.