AfD ramps up campaign ahead of September 2026 Saxony‑Anhalt state election

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is leading opinion polls in Saxony‑Anhalt ahead of the state election scheduled for 6 September 2026, with recent surveys showing the party at about 41‑42 % support. Party leader Ulrich Siegmund opened the campaign in Magdeburg with a large rally, and federal AfD chairwoman Alice Weidel officially launched the campaign later that day. The party’s program includes strict asylum reforms, accelerated deportations and changes to refugee‑related education and employment policies.

A disinformation operation dubbed “Operation Matrjoschka” has been reported on the social‑media platform X, spreading manipulated videos about candidates from the Greens, CDU, SPD and The Left. Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution linked the effort to foreign influence, likely Russian‑backed.

In preparation for the vote, the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung will release a Wahl‑O‑Mat tool in August, allowing voters to compare party positions on issues such as jobs, pricing, migration and education. The combined political activity underscores the high stakes of the 2026 Saxony‑Anhalt election for both state and national politics.