A prominent politician in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, has expressed his willingness to leave his home if the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gains power in the region.
In an interview with the Bild newspaper, Haseloff, a long-time minister-president of Saxony-Anhalt, stated that if the AfD were to come to power, he would have to reevaluate his decision to stay in the region. He described the atmosphere as “intolerable” and mentioned that his wife and many in his social circle would also have to consider leaving.
When asked if he would move to another country, Haseloff replied that he has family across Germany, indicating that he would not necessarily have to leave the country.
Haseloff also hinted that he would take personal action to prevent the AfD from winning the upcoming state election in 2026 and he left the door open for a possible re-run for the office of minister-president.
The decision on the CDU’s top candidate for the election is expected to be announced in a few weeks, with Haseloff stating that it is essential to wait until a year before the election to reveal the party’s choice of leader, as a longer period would be detrimental to the campaign.
Haseloff also emphasized that not all voters who supported right-wing parties in the European and federal elections are core AfD supporters. He believes that many in the eastern region of Germany, where the AfD has gained significant support, have a low level of party affiliation and need to be constantly convinced of the importance of democratic values. He believes that the established parties, including his own, have been “awakened” by the AfD’s success and must adapt to the changing political landscape.