In less than three weeks, the people of Saxony-Anhalt will be voting for a new state parliament – a groundbreaking election. While the AfD could possibly be responsible for a state government for the first time, four parties are fighting for entry into parliament. But what makes the parties' top candidates so special?
Sven Schulze, CDU
Whether it's a business breakfast, the topping-out ceremony of a children's home or a visit to a care facility - Sven Schulze has been traveling all over the state for weeks. The 47-year-old Prime Minister is trying to gain popularity and is also making election campaign appearances with prominent personalities, most recently actor Dieter Hallervorden. Raising his own profile is not an easy task for Schulze, after all, he only took over the office in January from the popular Reiner Haseloff (CDU), who ruled the country for 15 years. The father of three has also had a number of political positions behind him: local politician, European politician, state minister and now prime minister.
Schulze says he wants to prevent Saxony-Anhalt from becoming a political experimentation ground for anyone. The industrial engineer rules out a government coalition with the AfD and the Left Party. Would he accept a minority government tolerated by the left? He remains vague about this. He would like to continue a government in the current “Germany coalition” with the SPD and FDP, but surveys have not shown this so far.
Ulrich Siegmund, AfD
When Ulrich Siegmund invites people to AfD events, people come. He is one of the most prominent faces in the party. Siegmund became known through viral social media videos; today he is followed by more than 700,000 people on Tiktok. In the state parliament, the 35-year-old co-parliamentary group leader repeatedly provokes the other parties. He usually speaks pointedly about what is going wrong in Germany.
However, outside of parliament he always appears in a good mood. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the state association of the AfD as firmly right-wing extremist, but Siegmund repeatedly presents the extreme positions from the AfD election program as harmless in talk shows. He also knows how to use the nostalgia of the Saxony-Hikers for his own benefit, for example when he invites people to go on Simson trips together. It doesn't bother him that the Simson heirs publicly distanced themselves from the AfD and defended themselves against the appropriation of their name. Siegmund completed training as a wholesale and foreign trade merchant, then studied and later sold room fragrances. He has been a member of the state parliament since 2016.
Eva von Angern, The Left
24 years as a member of the state parliament, six of them as parliamentary group leader and, after 2021, the top candidate of her party for the second time - Eva von Angern is experienced in politics. With the slogan “Home is there for everyone” it explicitly opposes the appropriation of the concept of home by the AfD. Under her leadership, the Left in the state parliament is particularly committed to social justice. Outside parliament she is committed to child protection. Among other things, she was co-founder of the network against child poverty in Saxony-Anhalt.
During the election campaign, von Angern repeatedly emphasized that the party's goal was to prevent an AfD government. The native of Magdeburg does not rule out working with the CDU. But she doesn't want to simply support the CDU's policies. Cooperation would not be entirely new: Together with the coalition and the Greens, the Left recently voted for parliamentary reform.
Armin Willingmann, SPD
“Experience instead of experiments” is Armin Willingmann’s campaign motto. The 63-year-old lawyer has been minister in Saxony-Anhalt for ten years, most recently for science and energy. The German University Association named him one of the best two science ministers in Germany for the seventh time in a row, and he was named “Science Minister of the Year” three times.
The former rector of Harz University is considered serious and solution-oriented. He repeatedly positions himself clearly against the AfD. For the final weeks of the election campaign, he presented the motto: “We are the dike; against the blue wave”.
Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz, Alliance 90/The Greens
“Saxony-Anhalt can do more” – with these words Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz presents her election program. The mother of three emphasizes that her priority is to make the world worth living in for children. Their focus on the future is also clear in the election motto: “Only with green will there be a future.” Since entering the state parliament in 2021, Sziborra-Seidlitz has been the Greens' health and social policy spokesperson.
After 15 years in parliament, the party could miss out on entering the state parliament in 2026. Current surveys see the Greens sometimes just above the five percent threshold, sometimes just below it. So that the party will ultimately be represented in the new state parliament, Sziborra-Seidlitz is relying on a clear election campaign against the right.
Claudia Wittig and Thomas Schulze, BSW
Not only is the BSW new in the Saxony-Anhalt election campaign, but also the concept of a dual leadership: Claudia Wittig and Thomas Schulze. The 61-year-old Schulze is a correctional officer and volunteers for the Saxony-Anhalt Football Association. The 42-year-old historian Wittig lectures at the University of Halle. She is in second place on the state list and is also a member of the BSW federal board.
The BSW regional association, which was only founded in September 2024, could play a decisive role in the election. Current polls see the party close to the five percent threshold. The dual leadership stated that they “do not see” a coalition with the AfD coming. However, other forms of cooperation seem possible. Sahra Wagenknecht recently brought this into play: an abstention in the third round of the election for the new Prime Minister. This could clear the way for the AfD candidate Siegmund. Wittig described the AfD firewall as “undemocratic” and a dead end. The BSW's primary goal is to overthrow the CDU, which has led the government in Saxony-Anhalt since 2002.
Lydia Hüskens, FDP
Lydia Hüskens led the FDP back into the state parliament in 2021 after ten years of extra-parliamentary opposition and then directly into the government. In order to stay there, the incumbent Minister for Infrastructure and Digital presented her election program with the slogan “Because something has to change”. To this end, she focuses primarily on radical de-bureaucratization. Hüskens was a member of the state parliament from 2002 to 2011. After the party was kicked out of the state parliament, she worked as managing director of the Halle Student Union.
Despite her success five years ago, she was not always sure of becoming the top candidate in 2026 - in November, Hüskens prevailed in a vote against parliamentary group leader Andreas Silbersack. Now the Liberals are fighting to continue to be represented in the state parliament. Most recently, surveys always saw them just below the five percent threshold.
