AfD’s Ulrich Siegmund faces scrutiny ahead of Saxony‑Anhalt election

AfD top candidate Ulrich Siegmund is campaigning for the September 6, 2026 state election in Saxony‑Anhalt. In a ZDF talk show with Markus Lanz, Siegmund acknowledged that not all programme promises can be implemented immediately, saying “It’s not everything immediately implementable”. The party’s platform includes free childcare from the first child, state‑funded kindergartens and free school meals, but Siegmund warned that rollout depends on fiscal freedom and decisions in Berlin.

AfD leader Björn Höcke publicly endorsed Siegmund at the party congress in Erfurt, declaring, “I am sure you are the next Minister President of Saxony‑Anhalt”. Höcke linked the campaign to a vision of a “great Germany”, even citing the condition of highway rest‑room toilets as a societal barometer. Polls show the AfD ahead of other parties with roughly 40‑42 % support, positioning it to potentially form a single‑party government and place Siegmund in the state’s top post for the first time.

The growing momentum of the AfD in Saxony‑Anhalt underscores a significant shift in regional politics, with the party seeking to translate strong voter backing into executive power.