AfD Leads Saxony-Anhalt Election with Over 40% Support

Voting began on Sunday in Saxony‑Anhalt, the eastern German state where a closely watched state election is under way. Recent opinion polls show the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leading with just over 40 % of the vote, while the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) under Friedrich Merz trails at roughly 23 %. The election is seen as a barometer for the AfD’s growing influence in former East German regions and could shape the composition of the state parliament.

According to journalist Shirli Stibon, a central element of the AfD’s platform is a comprehensive overhaul of the education system, which the party describes as a “reset” of schooling. If the AfD secures a governing majority, reforms to curricula, school administration and teaching standards are expected to be among its first policy initiatives, potentially altering the state’s educational landscape. The outcome will determine whether these proposed changes are implemented and how they will affect Saxony‑Anhalt’s future governance.