All eyes are on the small German state of Saxony-Anhalt this week, ahead of a state election on Sunday that could trigger a political earthquake across Germany. Though the state has a population of just 2 million and ranks lowest in economic strength and life expectancy among Germany's 16 federal states, a victory for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could usher in the first far-right government in the history of post-World War II Germany.

The AfD's lead candidate is Ulrich Siegmund, and polls show him well in the lead. The only open question seems to be whether the AfD will secure an absolute majority of seats in Saxony-Anhalt's parliament, allowing it to govern alone. This appears to be Siegmund's only path to the state premiership, as other parties have ruled out a coalition with the AfD.

The 35-year-old Siegmund is drawing crowds on the campaign trail, even in small towns. He is often surrounded by international journalists: Canadian and Danish television, Swiss broadcasting, the BBC, and The Economist, alongside dozens of German reporters. Everyone wants to know: Who is Ulrich Siegmund? Born in 1990 in Havelberg, he joined the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at 19, only to leave five years later for the AfD. A former perfume salesman, he cuts a dynamic, athletic figure—slim, handsome, and fresh-faced. Above all, he is cheerful, playing the role of a charismatic charmer, visibly enjoying the campaign grind.

"I don't know when there was last such a high approval rating, even among young people," Siegmund told DW. "It's simply enormous." He speaks quickly, articulately, and with practiced ease. Even critical observers admit the AfD has momentum. David Begrich of Miteinander, an organization fighting right-wing extremism, noted: "The AfD's campaign events run like clockwork, both logistically and strategically. It is high-gloss marketing of their policies."

But what do AfD policies aim to achieve? Judging by Siegmund's speeches, the goal is a return to a bygone era—before Germany saw itself as a country of immigration, when electricity came from nuclear plants rather than wind turbines, and when LGBTQ+ rights were unrecognized. The party's "100-day immediate action plan" includes radical policies, notably a promise to "deport from minute one" foreign nationals without legal status but tolerated for humanitarian reasons, many of whom have established lives in Germany.

The plan also calls for funding cuts to pro-democracy NGOs, forcing refugees to work, and prioritizing love for the German homeland over social diversity. However, significant legal doubts remain about whether a state government has the authority to implement these pledges. Siegmund's "clean" image is also under scrutiny. He has faced allegations of cronyism, having secured a job for his father, a move poorly received even within his party. Moreover, according to Die Welt, his parliamentary group employs four former members of the banned neo-Nazi organization Heimattreue Deutsche Jugend, which openly admired Hitler's Nazism. DW observed Siegmund appearing arm-in-arm with men wearing neo-Nazi symbols like the Black Sun tattoo.

If the AfD takes power after September 6, what would it mean? Begrich warns: "There are clear indications that the AfD would turn Saxony-Anhalt into a testing ground for the whole country. How far can one go in overriding the written—and unwritten—rules of democratic culture in a federal state?" Many churches, unions, and civil society groups have warned against an AfD victory. Begrich shares their concerns: "Things will become difficult for those who belong to minorities or do not fit the AfD's ideological worldview. The social climate would shift to authoritarian regimentation—a problem for people who need liberal openness as they need air to breathe."

Source: www.dw.com