AfD is planning Nord Stream 2, nuclear energy and the abolition of the broadcasting fee in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

The AfD in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania promises a “blue turn” if it comes into government responsibility after the state elections on September 20th. In Saxony-Anhalt the party has recently failed to achieve an absolute majority, and in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania it was significantly lower in the last surveys. What can the AfD implement in Schwerin if it is enough - and what not?

Nord Stream

In its program, the AfD regional association demands: “The still intact line B of Nord Stream 2 should be put into operation as quickly as possible, and the damaged lines should be repaired as soon as possible.”

The two German-Russian Baltic Sea pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 - each a double line - were severely damaged by explosive attacks in September 2022. However, Russia had already throttled and ultimately stopped deliveries through Nord Stream 1 before the explosions. Nord Stream 2 was not yet operational.

Even an AfD state government cannot put the intact Nord Stream 2 pipe into operation on its own. The pipelines are subject to EU sanctions as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which Germany expressly supports, as the Federal Ministry of Economics (BMWE) explained at dpa's request. “Russian gas is generally sanctioned.” It was possible to end the dependence on Russian gas. “We’re sticking to that.”

The commissioning of Nord Stream 2, for example, would have to be certified at the federal level with coordination at the EU level. “This is not a question for a state government” and is neither possible nor wanted by the federal government. Meanwhile, in Lubmin, Western Pomerania, where the pipelines land in Germany, the dismantling of the gas power plant whose heat was used to feed Russian gas into the German network has been underway since last week. The power plant is a gift to Ukraine.

Nuclear instead of wind energy

There is talk of “wind power madness” in the AfD election manifesto. According to the program, the party wants to advocate at the federal level "that the Wind Energy Area Requirements Act be abolished or at least fundamentally revised so that the states can again decide on their own energy goals." The party complains about “coercion, blanket space quotas and politically pushed expansion goals”. They want to significantly tighten environmental impact assessments.

At the state level, an AfD state government could slow down the expansion or expansion and limit it spatially, explains energy expert Jacopo Maria Pepe from the Science and Politics Foundation, “for example through a restrictive designation of wind energy areas and spatial planning”. In concrete terms, this would mean limiting the expansion or expansion to the extent necessary to meet the legal space targets. “But she couldn’t stop him completely.” Federal law would actually have to be changed for this to happen.

The election program also mentions “re-entry into nuclear energy”. The AfD demands “that the decommissioned power plants be put back into operation as quickly as possible”. An AfD state government could push for a corresponding change to the Atomic Energy Act in the Bundesrat. This is also described in the program as a possible way. “But she can’t decide to return to work on her own,” explains Pepe.

Public broadcasting

A very concrete plan is the announced termination of the state broadcasting contracts by the AfD should it take over the government. According to the program, the goal is a lean “basic radio”. “The broadcasting fee will be abolished.”

An AfD state government could terminate the relevant contracts. However, different deadlines apply to them. According to the broadcaster, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania could leave NDR in 2031 at the earliest. The result of a termination would be “great uncertainty,” says Rostock political scientist Wolfgang Muno. An end to public broadcasting without replacement would not be easily possible, since a certain basic service is required by the constitution.

Education

With regard to schools, the AfD describes “an appearance of tendentious “civics education””. Instead of professional competence, “political education is being pushed more and more and earlier”. Teachers are encouraged to “actively advocate for the “right” political opinion.” According to the AfD, social studies should only be taught from grade eight onwards and not from seventh grade, as was the case following a recent change. The AfD wants to focus more on mathematics and natural sciences.

The AfD also criticizes education policy when it comes to sexuality and family. Children should not be confronted with sexual issues too early. The program also states: “We accept the different forms of coexistence, but insist that the teaching content is primarily based on the reality of life of the majority.”

Education is a state matter and an AfD state government would have extensive access to schools. Curricula can change overnight, says Muno. Teachers are bound by instructions.

However, the AfD could not directly influence content at universities. Muno, a professor himself, says: “I am free in research and teaching.” However, the universities are financed by the state. Leverage could be applied here at least indirectly, for example through cuts. In addition, new professors are appointed by the responsible ministry. However, the filling depends on the actual vacancies and the number of applicants.

Migration

Migration is a central issue for the AfD. It wants to set up its own border and repatriation police within the state police as well as its own deportation detention facility. Asylum seekers should be accommodated less decentrally and instead in a few large accommodations.

The AfD could implement such organizational projects at the state level, says Muno. You could also work with the responsible authorities to ensure faster deportations of rejected asylum seekers. And the “recording stop as a last resort for MV” that is mentioned in the program? “That would be illegal, that would be a violation of federal law,” says the scientist.

The AfD also believes “comprehensive measures to strictly limit and reduce Muslim migration in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania” are necessary. That is also illegal, says Muno. Muslim immigrants would have the same rights as all other immigrants.

Culture

Muno also sees opportunities for influence in the cultural sector. There is indeed artistic freedom. “But which cultural institution functions without public subsidies?” These could be stopped or controlled. If the worst comes to the worst, Muno also sees the danger that institutions will decide ahead of time what is still desirable and what is not.

The AfD program says: “We put ideologically motivated projects to the test. The demand for historical accuracy and the focus on strengthening and forming cultural identity are elementary for us.”

Civil society

The AfD is apparently critical of which organizations are currently being supported with public money. “The financing of frontline organizations of political parties, asylum policy lobby groups or the support of extremist structures through state funds will be stopped immediately,” she writes. Specifically, funding for the MV Refugee Council is to be stopped. That would be possible without any problem, says Muno.

There is talk of a “democracy clause as a binding prerequisite for any state funding” in the sense of political neutrality. Muno wonders what that would mean, for example, for a sports club that prefers to accept migrants and refugees. “Will he still get money then?”

Savings and reduction in bureaucracy

“We will save a ministry and unnecessary state secretary positions,” promises the AfD as part of austerity measures in the state administration. An AfD state government would have the freedom to do this. It also promises to reduce bureaucracy “through the decisive reduction of unnecessary state regulations and fees”. This would also be possible if there are regulations at the state level.