A senior German government official has cautioned against centering political discourse around the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, particularly in light of recent polling data showing the party gaining significant support in Saxony-Anhalt. Elisabeth Kaiser, the Federal Government’s Commissioner for Eastern Germany, stated that excessive focus on the AfD risks inadvertently bolstering its visibility and influence.
Speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Kaiser emphasized the importance of creating spaces for constructive discussions about the country’s future. She acknowledged the anxieties surrounding international crises but stressed that no government, regardless of its political orientation, can immediately resolve them. Kaiser urged a critical examination of seemingly straightforward solutions aimed at complex challenges.
The commissioner underscored the significance of each individual vote, stating that citizens must carefully consider which parties they entrust with the future of the nation.
Recent polling data, conducted by the opinion research institute Infratest on behalf of Magdeburg Volksstimme, Mitteldeutsche Zeitung and Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, indicates the AfD as the leading force with 39 percent support in Saxony-Anhalt. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is positioned at 27 percent, while the Left party currently holds 13 percent. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is projected to receive 7 percent, potentially falling below its record low from the last state election. The Basic Social Welfare party (BSW) would secure 6 percent. The Green Party and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), currently below the 5 percent threshold needed for parliamentary representation, would not be represented in the state legislature.