Saxony-Anhalt as a political laboratory
The state elections as a test run for new forms of government
Quick Look
- The state elections in Saxony-Anhalt are considered a political experimental field.
- Regardless of the outcome, the federal state could once again become a pioneer for unusual government alliances, as was the case with the historic “Magdeburg Model”.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Saxony-Anhalt has already been the venue for new coalition forms in the past, including the 'Magdeburg Model' from 1994 and the first Kenya and Germany coalition.
Regardless of the outcome of Sunday's state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, the state will become a laboratory for a new form of government: Either the AfD will take over a government for the first time, with an absolute majority or as a minority government. Or the other parties will find a way to form a government around her.
Saxony-Anhalt already has experience with such experiments. From 1994 to 2002, the SPD led a minority government, tolerated by the PDS, the successor party to the SED and forerunner of today's Left. This “Magdeburg model” lasted longer than any other minority government in German history. Two other coalition forms were also tested here nationwide for the first time: in 2016, the first “Kenya coalition” (SPD, Greens, CDU), then the first “Germany coalition” (CDU, SPD, FDP).
Open Questions
- Which coalition will actually be formed after the election?
- How stable will the new government be?
