AI-generated summary
The AfD has more than doubled its result in the 2021 parliamentary elections in Saxony-Anhalt and has become the strongest force with 43.8 percent. Three seats are missing as an absolute majority. According to a survey by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, confidence in the party has increased from 9 to 35 percent.
43.8 percent – the AfD has never been so strong. In the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, it more than doubled its 2021 result and is by far the strongest force. It is three seats short of an absolute majority.
For a long time it was said that anyone who voted for the AfD was voting primarily out of protest. But in Saxony-Anhalt, according to a survey by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, 35 percent of people are now most likely to trust the AfD to solve the country's most important problems - in the last election it was only 9 percent. For many people, rejection of the other parties has turned into real trust.
At the same time, the country remains deeply divided: According to the Elections research group for ZDF, only 41 percent want an AfD-led state government, the majority still want a CDU-led one. So what does government responsibility do to a party that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies as firmly right-wing extremist - does it tame itself or does it further radicalize?
Hannah Grünewald talks about this in the 148th episode of »What Now? – The Week” with August Modersohn, deputy head of the politics department.
Our show is available every Thursday on zeit.de and on YouTube as well as as a video podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The AfD will try to form a state government or at least influence the formation of government.
Likely · Within weeks
The debate over a possible AfD-led government will intensify in the coming weeks.
Very likely · Within weeks
In a new Insa survey for the state elections in Lower Saxony, the SPD is ahead of the CDU (22 percent) and the AfD (21 percent) with 26 percent. The Greens gain three percentage points and reach 15 percent. The survey was conducted on 1,000 people from September 1st to 8th.
After the AfD election victory in Saxony-Anhalt, the Queere Diversity Association (LSDV+) warns that the situation for queer people and marginalized groups will worsen. Human rights for LGBTIAQ* are already actively threatened and the social climate has noticeably changed.
The US agency ICE carries out mass deportations, with masked forces separating children from their mothers and instilling fear in entire city districts. While many families no longer leave their homes, part of the population goes about their daily lives unimpressed and approves of the measures.
The EU plans to outsource asylum and return procedures to third countries. Former Frontex manager Götz Brinkmann explains, based on his experience, that even smaller agreements with non-EU states are difficult to reach, even though Europe is dependent on partners and can only offer limited incentives. He cites the political reservations of the partners, a lack of trust steps and extensive EU requirements on fundamental rights, data protection and control as blockages, for example in the failed Niger draft of 2022 due to data protection concerns. Brinkmann emphasizes that return centers must have clear regulations on responsibility, legal protection and control beforehand, as the consequences of European decisions only become visible in third countries. His conclusion: Financial or visa-based considerations can make signatures easier, but the fundamental conflict between European guarantees and the willingness of third countries to cooperate remains.

The conference of interior ministers is discussing measures against a possible AfD-led government in Saxony-Anhalt, including the exclusion from the exchange of information and the abolition of the unanimity principle in order to prevent the transfer of sensitive data to right-wing extremists and Russia.

The CDU plans to propose the East German Bundestag member Michael Hose as acting deputy general secretary after the long-awaited resignation of the office by the previous general secretary Caren Stumpp was initially delayed. Stumpp should instead be proposed for the position of agricultural policy spokeswoman in the Bundestag, provided she vacates her current position.