Saxony-Anhalt Election: AfD Leads Polls as CDU Fights to Retain Power

Saxony-Anhalt is bracing for a state election on September 6, with national attention focused on the potential for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to achieve an absolute majority. Current polling data places the AfD significantly ahead, followed by the incumbent Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

The CDU is pinning its hopes on retaining the Minister-President position, despite the challenging electoral landscape. Sven Schulze, who recently took over from Reiner Haseloff in January 2026, is the party's top candidate. Haseloff's early departure from politics was seen as a strategic move to bolster Schulze's campaign. Schulze, a 46-year-old former engineer and Member of the European Parliament, leads a "Deutschland-Koalition" comprising the CDU, SPD, and FDP.

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A government like that could lead to a 'school death'.

Schulze has actively warned against an AfD-led government, predicting negative consequences such as school closures. He aims to create opportunities for young people, including a "guaranteed apprenticeship." Notably, Schulze has recently distanced himself from the federal government, criticizing its slow reform pace. The CDU has governed Saxony-Anhalt for nearly 24 years, with a brief interruption by the SPD after reunification.

The election features a range of leading candidates representing various political factions. Ulrich Siegmund is the AfD's candidate for Minister-President. Other key figures include Eva von Angern for The Left, Armin Willingmann for the SPD, Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz for the Greens, and Claudia Wittig and Thomas Schulze for the BSW alliance. Lydia Hüskens represents the FDP. The outcome could have significant implications for both the state and federal political dynamics in Germany.

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Apprenticeship guarantee.