Education Minister Prien is threatening the AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt with legal action and a demand for funds back

Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU) is threatening a possible AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt with legal action and the reclaim of federal funds in the event of drastic changes to education policy. “If the Basic Law is violated, such as the requirement of equal treatment, the federal government could intervene through constitutional lawsuits,” Prien told the Editorial Network Germany (RND).

The federal government also has financial leverage: “There are a number of federal programs to support the states in education. If a state does not adhere to the agreed purposes, the federal government can demand the funds back and, if in doubt, enforce this through legal action," emphasized the minister.

Prien: Education policy is a state matter, but it has limits

Prien also warned of consequences for the recognition of the Abitur or other educational qualifications from Saxony-Anhalt in the other federal states if an AfD state government were to drastically change curricula. Because education is a state matter, a state government can decide on structures and curricula itself. “But that has limits,” she emphasized.

“If an AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt were to stray too far from a basic consensus in education policy, it would risk that school qualifications would no longer be recognized in the rest of Germany,” said the minister. “The Conference of Education Ministers will monitor this very closely.”

In its election program, the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt announced, among other things, that it would abolish compulsory schooling, set up separate classes for refugee children and end inclusion in schools. Prien emphasized that she was very concerned about a possible takeover of government by the AfD, which is classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Saxony-Anhalt as definitely right-wing extremist. “We know from history that culture and education are the main points of attack by right-wing extremist parties in order to get their ideology into people’s heads,” warned Prien, who comes from a Jewish family.