The Alternative for Germany (AfD) holds a commanding lead of roughly 41 percent in polling ahead of Saxony-Anhalt's state election on September 6, raising the prospect that the party could govern alone in the eastern German state. The incumbent coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Social Democrats and Free Democrats risks losing its majority, with the CDU trailing at about 24 percent.
State Premier Sven Schulze has ruled out any CDU defections that could hand the AfD a governing majority, pointing to the party's 2018 resolution barring cooperation with the AfD, which Saxony-Anhalt's domestic intelligence agency classifies as proven far-right extremist. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel has nonetheless declared the party will form the state government and pledged to close borders and withdraw from the Schengen Agreement.
Meanwhile, Saxony's education minister Christian Clemens warned against AfD proposals to weaken compulsory schooling, segregate foreign and disabled students, and reduce teaching on the Nazi era.