Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt – The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is aiming for power in Sachsen-Anhalt, with the goal of winning the most votes in the state election on September 6th and installing Ulrich Siegmund, 35, as Minister President. The party intends to govern based on a 156-page draft program currently circulating within the state.
The document, sent to around 3,500 members of the AfD state association, is subject to amendment proposals at the party congress in April, according to party spokesman Patrick Harr. He stated, “This is an internal draft that our members should discuss in the coming weeks and submit amendments to at the party conference in April.”
Central Focus: Immigration and “Remigration”
A central chapter of the program focuses on “Immigration and Remigration,” stating Sachsen-Anhalt “needs a 180-degree turn in its migration policy.” The program calls for an “offense for deportation and remigration,” a halt to the acceptance of non-EU foreigners, and the abolition of the right to asylum, which would be limited to a “right of hospitality for a limited time.”
Plans also include the creation of a “Task Force for Deportations,” with civil servants described as “returnees” who are “everyday heroes serving their people and fatherland.” The program proposes confiscating cash and assets from asylum seekers upon entry into the country.
Ending Asylum and Challenging Established Institutions
The AfD draft rejects church asylum, suggesting that religious communities could be held liable for delays in deportations. State funding for churches would be immediately terminated, with the party accusing major churches of promoting a “rainbow ideology.” Funding for the Evangelical Academy of Sachsen-Anhalt would be cut by 70,000 euros.
The state center for political education is also slated for elimination, deemed a “left-wing indoctrination institution.” As an “immediate measure,” the program calls for terminating the state broadcasting agreements, with public broadcasting to be restructured into a tax-funded “basic broadcasting” model similar to Finland’s.
Restrictions on Voting, Education, and Family Policy
The draft outlines a “radical change of course” for administration and public service, including reducing “superfluous structures,” streamlining bureaucracy, and implementing a blanket spending cut of at least ten percent across all ministries. Subsidies for renewable energies would be eliminated, halting the expansion of wind power and the coal phase-out.
The AfD also plans to restrict postal voting, citing concerns about “manipulation.” In schools, the program calls for separate classes for refugee children, the end of inclusion, and the deployment of security personnel. The party’s family policy emphasizes a traditional model of father, mother, and many children, with stricter rules regarding abortion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “remigration” as proposed by the AfD?
According to the draft program, “remigration” refers to an “offense for deportation and remigration,” aiming to actively deport non-EU foreigners and abolish the right to asylum.
What changes are proposed for the state’s broadcasting system?
The AfD proposes terminating the state broadcasting agreements and restructuring public broadcasting into a tax-funded “basic broadcasting” model, similar to the system in Finland.
What is the AfD’s stance on church asylum?
The AfD rejects church asylum and suggests that religious communities could be held liable for delays in deportations, and would end state funding for churches.
Given these proposals, how might the political landscape of Sachsen-Anhalt shift following the September elections?
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