The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is reportedly making intensive preparations to establish a single-party government in Saxony-Anhalt, planning to staff it with personnel sourced from across the country. According to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung” (FAS), politicians from five regional branches indicate that the AfD has begun searching for suitable employees and ministers nationwide.
Initial talks about potential ministerial changes are reportedly taking place both at the margins of federal party board meetings and within the AfD’s parliamentary group, with discussions already detailing specific roles and functions.
To facilitate this, AfD federal board member Hannes Gnauck states that the party maintains registers listing the qualifications of its most highly skilled activists nationwide. These individuals are trained through the “Schwarz-Rot-Gold-Akademie” an academy for which Gnauck is responsible. Gnauck told the FAS that if a minister, such as Ulrich Siegmund, requires adequate administrative staff, the federal party organization is prepared for such a scenario. Additionally, the central office of the AfD houses a “Working Group for Governmental Involvement” composed of legal professionals tasked with simulating governmental takeovers and identifying potential pitfalls the party might face after a successful election.
The party aims to gain control of between 150 and 200 crucial positions across state ministries, agencies, and state-owned enterprises. AfD top candidate Ulrich Siegmund recently warned civil servants who might resist the political line of an AfD government. While Siegmund told the FAS that the party extends a hand to people of any political affiliation, he added that if efforts are made to actively block their work, “administrative law measures will surely be utilized”.
A senior AfD official confirmed to the FAS that inquiries are already coming from civil servants regarding their personal future should a power shift occur. Moreover, there is specific focus on recruiting legal experts from “rights-oriented fraternities”.
Andreas Lichert, the AfD chair for Hesse, anticipates that activists from Schnellroda will make up a sizable portion of the workforce, praising them because of their proficiency. These individuals are linked to attending the political academies in Schnellroda, established by the far-right publisher Götz Kubitschek, some of whom openly reject the liberal party system.
However, Lichert dismissed concerns about anti-party opponents flowing into the government, asking, “Who would desire to work specifically in this area? Who has an aversion to parties?” Siegmund himself confirmed to the newspaper that personal staffing issues for a potential AfD government were already addressed during the “Remigration Conference” held in Potsdam in November 2023, an event attended by him and his parliamentary group leader.