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Saxony-Anhalt Premier Sven Schulze campaigns to block far-right AfD election victory

The CDU leader seeks a multi-party coalition as polls place the AfD above 40 percent.

Updated Aug 31, 2026 · 12:28 UTC3 reports

The short version

  • Incumbent State Premier Sven Schulze is running against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of the September 6 vote in Saxony-Anhalt.[Deutsche Welle · Deutsche Welle · Deutsche Welle]
  • Polls show the AfD leading with over 40% support compared to roughly 23% for Schulze's Christian Democratic Union (CDU).[Deutsche Welle · Deutsche Welle]
  • Schulze's strategy relies on keeping the AfD below an absolute 50% majority so he can assemble a multi-party governing coalition.[Deutsche Welle]

Key facts

  • The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is polling at over 40% in Saxony-Anhalt ahead of the September 6 election, while the CDU trails at approximately 23%.[Deutsche Welle · Deutsche Welle]
  • Germany's domestic intelligence agency classifies the AfD as confirmed right-wing extremist.[Deutsche Welle · Deutsche Welle]
  • Sven Schulze, who took over in late January following Reiner Haseloff's retirement, is the youngest state premier in Germany at age 47.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Schulze has separated his campaign from Chancellor Friedrich Merz by resisting federal commission healthcare proposals and asserting his role is bringing local issues to Berlin.[Deutsche Welle · Deutsche Welle]
  • Schulze defended campaign appearances with actor Dieter Hallervorden, rejecting criticism from CDU leadership over Hallervorden's foreign policy critiques and on-stage protest imagery.[Deutsche Welle · Deutsche Welle]
  • AfD representative Hans-Thomas Tillschneider described Bauhaus modernism in state parliament using phrasing originating from 1928 Nazi-influencing architecture critic Paul Schultze-Naumburg.[Deutsche Welle]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether the AfD will remain below 50% of the vote, and whether Schulze will succeed in stitching together an alliance of up to three partner parties to retain office.[Deutsche Welle · Deutsche Welle · Deutsche Welle]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.