AfD leads Saxony-Anhalt election, sparking disinformation worries and party counter‑measures

Polls show the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of the September 6 state election in Saxony‑Anhalt, with some surveys indicating a possible absolute majority. The party’s platform includes cheaper Russian energy, changes to education and security policy, and a departure from climate and gender‑focused programmes.

German intelligence and activist groups say Russian‑linked online operations are spreading disinformation to boost the AfD, creating fake accounts that impersonate trusted media and targeting eastern‑German voters. No concrete counter‑measures have been announced yet.

The federal government and the Länder are preparing legal and fiscal tools to block a potential AfD government, including possible federal interventions under Article 37 of the Basic Law and discussions on abandoning unanimous voting in inter‑state ministerial conferences.

The CDU has launched a nationwide door‑to‑door campaign, mobilising around 350,000 members to canvass in Saxony‑Anhalt, while senior CDU figures warn against tolerating left‑wing parties or the AfD in minority‑government scenarios. Former CDU leaders also criticize past tolerance of the Left and caution that an AfD win could threaten democratic norms.

Additional debate surrounds the impact on science policy, with ministers planning safeguards against AfD‑driven interference, and media outlets organising televised debates and town‑hall meetings ahead of the vote.