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Nach dem Ende der Sowjetunion begann der Kulturaustausch zwischen Deutschland und Russland mit verstärktem Engagement und in Freiheit. Diese Epoche ist nun beendet.
Es kommt selten vor, dass die auswärtige Kulturpolitik in den Fokus der Tagespolitik rückt, aber gerade ist es mal wieder so weit. Die Bundesregierung schließt das Russische Haus in Berlin, daraufhin hat die russische Regierung das Ende der Goethe-Institute in Russland angekündigt. Man sieht das zu Recht als Zeichen für die Lage der Beziehung zwischen den beiden Staaten: Der Kulturaustausch zwischen Deutschland und Russland begann nach dem Ende der Sowjetunion mit verstärktem Engagement und in Freiheit. Nun ist diese Epoche beendet.

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.
In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD is on the verge of a historic electoral success and could even form the government, although Friedrich Merz once wanted to halve it. The hosts of The Politics Part discuss the causes of the rise of populists, the responsibility of the federal government and the consequences if the AfD becomes the strongest force but does not achieve a majority.

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.