Germany’s far right eyes small eastern state as springboard to national power

In the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is establishing a foundation for a potential national government position in the future. With a population of around two million, the state is strategically important to the AfD's aspirations to govern Germany for the first time since World War II. AfD leaders in Saxony-Anhalt are implementing a strategic plan to govern the region without disrupting the balance between radical change and maintaining stability.

The party aims to achieve their goals by appointing loyal party members to key positions within the state's civil service, some of whom have been pre-selected and trained by the AfD. The AfD intends to introduce a "deportation task force" consisting of state ministers and police officials, a move that differentiates them from mainstream parties while avoiding the negative associations of similar policies in other countries.

The goal is to modernize school history curriculums and limit funding for art deemed "anti-German," all while keeping the public satisfied with pragmatic policies like increasing funding for fire departments.

The AfD's approach to governance, which focuses on swift and stable change, could potentially destigmatize the party and increase its chances of national success. Party leaders hope that citizens will see the benefits of the AfD's policies without experiencing a significant upheaval. The AfD's strategy in Saxony-Anhalt could force Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to reconsider its stance on governing with a far-right party, potentially changing the political landscape in Germany.