{
  "id": 5130776,
  "title": "Landtagswahl in Sachsen-Anhalt: Asyl, Schule, Sicherheit: Hitzige Debatte der Wahlkämpfer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/landtagswahl-in-sachsen-anhalt-asyl-schule-sicherheit-hitzige-debatte",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-02T16:43:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/landtagswahl-in-sachsen-anhalt-asyl-schule-sicherheit-hitzige-debatte-der-wahlkaempfer/100251534.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "In Sachsen-Anhalt, before the Landtagswahl, the main candidates delivered a heated debate covering topics such as foreign workers, teacher and doctor shortages, unequal educational opportunities, and the future of pensions and care. CDU's Sven Schulze and AfD's Ulrich Siegmund debated in a two-man duel, while all the main candidates faced off on a debate stage that night. Wirtschaft hailed Siegmund for his plans to bring back foreign workers to Germany, but Schulze criticized his proposal as too general and emphasized the need for Germany to meet its own labor demand. Schulze also stressed that Germany needs to attract labor, particularly in industries like care and machinery. SPD's Armin Willingmann, the current Energy and Environment Minister, pushed for further relief in energy prices to bolster the country's chemical industry. Greens' Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz highlighted the expansion of renewable energy, noting that Sachsen-Anhalt already has a 60% share of renewable energy in its power mix. Linken's Eva von Angern called for support of vulnerable chemical jobs, but with an eye on sustainable industrial transformation. Migration was a hot topic between Schulze and Siegmund, with Siegmund arguing that they need to enforce their own law, and Schulze countering that the number of migrant workers in the state has already decreased and is now back to 2011 levels. Schulze asked Siegmund to specify where he would deport them, since many of their home countries wouldn't take them back. Schulze rejected Siegmund's accusation of always saying what can't be done, and said, \"I say what works.\" The EU has made it possible for third countries to take in these migrants. Wirtschaft noted that the EU regulation could be used. Education, Schulze announced, he would place the merit principle back in the forefront of schools if he were to form a government. There should also be a compulsory recommendation for each child's educational path, he added. He lamented that there were violence problems in schools in Magdeburg-Neustadt and other districts, causing teachers to feel desperate due to the lack of sanction options. AfD's Hans-Thomas Tillschneider suggested posting security guards with tear gas at schoolyards, which Schulze rejected as a \"satirical exaggeration.\" Schulze argued that such measures are only necessary for problem schools, while Siegmund said they wouldn't implement it for every school. Linken's Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz called for more funding for education and a permanent endowment for school social work, suggesting the wealth tax as a possible additional revenue source. FDP's Lydia Hüskens supported maintaining schools even with decreasing student numbers, arguing that long commutes or boarding schools aren't solutions. Lehrkräfte should also be relieved of administrative tasks, and if classes are missed, digital offerings should help. In finance, Wirtschaft's scientists view AfD's financial plans in Sachsen-Anhalt with skepticism, but AfD's Siegmund defended his proposed savings of 300-500 million euros, mainly from asylum and migration, subsidies, administration, and vacant positions. He expects additional revenue from resettlements and economic development. The Institute for Economic Research Halle (IWH) estimated a funding gap of around 2.2 billion euros for AfD's plans. Schulze criticized Siegmund for announcing plans without viable funding, and Schulze sees potential savings in personnel, suggesting that freed-up positions shouldn't always be immediately filled. He pointed to increased spending on childcare and noted that the free meals promised by the AfD in their election program would cost the state roughly a million euros per day. Schulze asked where the money would come from. Who has the mandate to govern? With the Landtagswahl on September 6, the AfD is leading all polls over the CDU. A single AfD government could prove difficult to form, and no other majority is likely to be formed. The CDU may need to include the left to form a government. Siegmund only wants a stable majority in the Landtag to become Ministerpräsident. \"One more vote is a bit wobbly,\" he said, \"I need a stable majority.\" Siegmund aims for an AfD alone government. If the party fails to achieve a majority, he would not accept the role of Ministerpräsident.",
  "summary": "Kostenloses Kita-Essen, Arbeitskräfte aus dem Ausland und Abschiebungen: Wer kann seine Versprechen in Sachsen-Anhalt halten? Worüber Schulze, Siegmund und die übrigen Kandidaten debattierten.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "Landtagswahl in Sachsen-Anhalt: Schulze und Siegmund im Duell – Asyl, Schule und Schulden",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/landtagswahl-in-sachsen-anhalt-schulze-und-siegmund-im-duell-asyl",
        "published": "2026-09-02T14:11:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}