After state election, Woidke warns of prolonged instability in Saxony-Anhalt

Brandenburg Premier Dietmar Woidke warned that Saxony-Anhalt could face a long period of instability after the AfD won the state election by a wide margin but failed to secure an absolute majority.

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I personally fear that there will now be a long phase of instability overall in our neighboring state

“I personally fear that there will now be a long phase of instability overall in our neighboring state,” the Social Democrat said. He added that the situation could have negative effects on Brandenburg. Authorities classify the AfD state associations in both Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg as confirmed far-right extremist organizations.

Woidke also called for changes to planned federal reforms agreed with the CDU. He said he needed to tell people that the reforms would improve their lives, but argued that the current message focused too heavily on saving money. He particularly criticized plans to abolish the so-called pension at 63 and said politicians needed to appeal more strongly to emotions.

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That will not be associated with these reforms. The message is too much: We have to save money

Brandenburg AfD leader René Springer urged Woidke’s government to stop monitoring the party through the state domestic intelligence service. The AfD is challenging its classification through legal channels, and Springer said the Saxony-Anhalt result gave the party “massive momentum” as it seeks to take power in Brandenburg in the 2029 state election.

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End the defamation and persecution of the AfD and its environment by Department V of the Interior Ministry, the domestic intelligence service

The shape of Saxony-Anhalt’s next government remains open. Brandenburg CDU leader Jan Redmann said the AfD, as the party with the most votes, should first develop a stable governing option. The Brandenburg BSW said a political change was possible but demanded an end to energy sanctions against Russia, public broadcaster reform and a state care allowance, while stressing that no party would receive a blank check. Within Brandenburg’s Young Union, Tim Brand called for Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz to resign after the CDU’s poor performance.

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massive momentum