AfD Saxony-Anhalt presents 100-day program for taking over government

Lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund, who according to the party is 35 years old, presented the ten points of the immediate program. Siegmund said: „Die Leute möchten den politischen Wandel. Alle anderen Parteien beschäftigen sich nur noch mit uns, haben keine eigenen Positionen." He also announced: „Wir geben den Ton an."

Asylum policy and internal security

One of the central points is a comprehensive work obligation for asylum seekers. The AfD also wants to significantly expand capacities for deportation detention and establish a new working group of state and municipalities on deportations. Also planned are special classes for children of asylum seekers as well as security personnel at problem schools.

In the education sector, the program provides for banning rainbow flags at schools and instead hoisting the federal flag on every school day. In addition, a Corona investigation committee is to be set up in the state parliament to review the state's pandemic policy.

Education and administration

Further points concern internal security and administration. The AfD plans to cut one to two ministries in order to reduce the administration. In addition, the broadcasting state treaties, which form the legal basis of public-service broadcasting, are to be terminated.

In the cultural sector, the AfD wants to launch a new state campaign and replace the previous slogan „#moderndenken" with „#deutschdenken". A subsidy for driving licenses is also planned, which is to benefit primarily trainees.

According to observers' assessment, the program contains both costly promises and a clear marking of political opponents. The subsidization of driving licenses and the expansion of deportation detention places would tie up considerable state funds.

Classification by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution

The AfD Saxony-Anhalt has, according to its own figures, around 3,500 members. The state association is classified by the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution as confirmed right-wing extremist. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution also classifies the party as a whole as a suspected case of right-wing extremism.

The current government in Saxony-Anhalt is carried by a coalition of CDU, SPD and FDP. Minister-President is Sven Schulze of the CDU. The state election on September 6 is considered trend-setting for the political landscape in eastern Germany.

Outlook on the election campaign

Reichardt also sharply attacked the other parties at the party conference. He accused them of only dealing with the AfD and no longer developing their own political positions. The AfD sees itself as a force of political change.

Siegmund emphasized that the program is an immediate program for the first hundred days of an AfD-led government. It is about showing voters concrete measures that are to be implemented immediately after taking over government.

The party conference in Magdeburg marks the start of the final phase of the election campaign. The AfD wants to campaign for itself statewide with the program in the coming weeks. The reactions of the other parties to the program are expected in the coming days.

Observers see in the program a mixture of populist demands, symbolic politics and concrete administrative measures. The question of whether the AfD can actually form a government after the election also depends on which coalition options arise arithmetically.