AfD leads by 20 points in Saxony-Anhalt poll ahead of state election: CDU trails in televised debate

A new Infratest dimap poll published on Wednesday shows the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leading with 42 percent support in Saxony-Anhalt, ahead of the state election, while the governing Christian Democratic Union (CDU) trails at 22 percent. The survey, cited by multiple outlets, underscores the AfD’s momentum as it eyes forming its first regional government in Germany .
On Wednesday evening, AfD’s lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund and CDU incumbent Sven Schulze faced off in a televised debate on MDR, marking a heated exchange just 11 days before the vote. Schulze, the current minister-president, adopted an aggressive stance, accusing Siegmund of lacking concrete plans for the state’s future. “I don’t just talk, I deliver,” Schulze said, pointing to his record on economic investments, including millions directed to the chemical site in Piesteritz .
Siegmund, whose party polls at double the CDU’s support, countered by framing the AfD’s rise as inevitable. “We will make history, one way or another,” he stated, while dismissing Schulze’s claims about the AfD’s stance on women’s roles as “fake news” . The debate also saw Siegmund label Schulze a “political flat-nose,” echoing a recent remark by AfD co-leader Alice Weidel about federal officials .
The AfD’s lead has sparked protests, including a “migrant strike” in Magdeburg on Wednesday, where around 160 shops owned by immigrants closed to oppose the party’s policies, which include deportation pledges . Meanwhile, a separate survey by Forsa indicates that a majority of Germans reject the AfD’s demands, particularly on migration and education .
The Left Party’s Heidi Reichinnek ruled out cooperation with any party that might implement AfD policies, setting conditions for potential collaboration with the CDU in the event of a minority government . The CDU has long rejected alliances with the Left, leaving its options limited as it trails the AfD by 20 points.
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