Upcoming Elections in Saxony-Anhalt: Political Landscape and Economic Indicators
Polls indicate that the AfD, classified by intelligence services as a right-wing extremist organization, could emerge as the winner of the upcoming Saxony-Anhalt elections.
Abdulrahman Sadikhli2 min read
In the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, the popularity of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is on the rise. In the 2021 elections, the party secured about 20% of the vote, becoming the largest opposition force, and current polls suggest the possibility of a victory. The region is currently governed by a coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) under the leadership of Minister-President Reiner Haseloff (CDU).
The AfD's election campaign is built on the claim that Saxony-Anhalt is lagging behind the rest of Germany socially and economically. Statistics confirm that the unemployment rate in the region is higher than the national average, and the median earnings of full-time employees are below the German average. Out of the region's 2.1 million residents, only about 800,000 are employed in jobs subject to mandatory social security contributions.
The state's economy relies on the chemical industry, concentrated in the 'chemical triangle' (Leuna, Merseburg, Bitterfeld-Wolfen), as well as mechanical engineering and the service sector. Although the region's economic growth has been slower than the national average in recent years, and output per capita is only three-quarters of the national average, the demographic situation shows an influx of population. Since 2016, the net migration balance for both foreign nationals and Germans has remained positive.
The issue of immigration has become central to the AfD's agenda, which warns of 'excessive immigration' and 'foreign influence.' However, the share of foreign nationals in Saxony-Anhalt by the end of 2025 was about 9%, which is half that of North Rhine-Westphalia. Furthermore, the proportion of foreigners among social welfare recipients in the region remains relatively low compared to other states.
Against the backdrop of political debates, traditional parties—the CDU and SPD—are losing voter support. The SPD is approaching the 5% threshold, which threatens its presence in the regional parliament. Experts note that despite the discrepancies between the rhetoric of radical parties and actual indicators, support for such political forces in Saxony-Anhalt continues to strengthen.
Source: dw.com
