As AfD eyes state victory, a new German citizen holds onto hope
In Saxony-Anhalt, the far-right AfD is projected to win the upcoming state election, potentially giving the party its first share of power since the Nazi era. The author, marking five years as a German citizen, acknowledges the dark moment but retains confidence in the country's democratic institutions. He contrasts Germany's seriousness with the UK's post-Brexit chaos.
The state election in Saxony-Anhalt is set for 6 September, with the AfD projected to win a resounding victory that could mark the first time a far-right party holds power in Germany since the Nazi era. The party's regional branches in Saxony-Anhalt and neighboring Thuringia have been formally classified as extremist by domestic intelligence services. Its platform includes pledges on "remigration," downplaying Nazi history, and sympathetic positions toward the Kremlin, while also receiving backing from the Trump administration's national security strategy, which promised support for "patriotic" parties across Europe.
The author, John Kampfner, marks his fifth anniversary as a German citizen on 8 September, two days after the vote. He describes his 2021 naturalization as both practical—regaining EU free movement after Brexit—and emotional, given his Jewish, German-speaking father. He contrasts Germany's serious, consensus-driven politics with what he calls Britain's post-Brexit "clown country" chaos. The current federal coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats is fractious, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz widely seen as weakened and his likely successor, Hendrik Wüst, reluctant to take over amid the bleak political climate.
A far-right victory in Saxony-Anhalt could embolden similar movements across Europe and strain Germany's democratic institutions, which have relied on postwar consensus and vigilance against extremism. Minority communities, particularly immigrants and Jewish citizens, may feel heightened vulnerability if the AfD gains governing influence. The result could also deepen federal instability, as a weakened coalition in Berlin faces pressure from both the far right and internal divisions. Observers may watch whether centrist parties can form a viable coalition or whether the outcome signals broader erosion of mainstream political trust.