AfD poised for first absolute majority in German state since WWII: media funding in crosshairs
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13 days · 13 summary articles
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is poised to secure an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt’s state election on Sunday, a result that would mark the first time the party governs a German state since World War II. Polls show the AfD leading with 42 percent support, far ahead of the Christian Democrats (CDU) at 22 percent, raising the prospect of a political earthquake in Germany and across Europe.
The AfD has already signaled its first target if it wins: the media. Lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund announced plans to terminate funding for the regional public broadcaster Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR), calling it “anti-German” and “woke,” and declaring, “no one should be forced to pay for disinformation.” The MDR, which covers Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Saxony, began broadcasting a “bleep” followed by silence after news bulletins in August to alert listeners to its potential closure. The AfD has framed the move as “the beginning of the end for compulsory, licence-fee-funded broadcasting.”
A victory would shatter a longstanding political taboo in Germany and send a powerful signal to Europe, according to European Parliament members. Hildegard Bentele of the center-right EPP said the rise of the far right must be countered by “listening closely to people, offering realistic solutions and presenting an optimistic vision for the future.” Jean-Marc Germain of the Socialists & Democrats warned that Europe’s failure to build economic sovereignty has allowed the far right to thrive in regions devastated by globalization and de-industrialization.
The election has also intensified debates over migration, climate policy, and support for Ukraine, with analysts suggesting a stronger AfD could complicate Germany’s role in the EU amid geopolitical pressures. The party’s lead in Saxony-Anhalt follows its status as the largest single party in Thuringia, where it has been kept out of power by a three-way coalition, and its second-place position in Saxony, where elections are not due until 2029.
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⚠️ A note ahead of two big votes: Saxony-Anhalt goes to the polls on September 6, and Sweden follows on September 13. Election season means a flood of "poll" numbers online — and not all of it is real. Before you share: ✅ Check the source. Is it a known, established polling institute — or an anonymous account/screenshot with no named pollster? ✅ Look for the methodology. Legit polls disclose sample size and fieldwork dates. If none of that is listed, be skeptical. ✅ Cross-check. Compare the number against polling aggregators or multiple outlets before trusting a single post. ✅ Watch the timing. Fabricated "leaked" or "exclusive" polls often appear right before voting — designed to spread fast, not to be accurate. 🔎 Want to check a pollsters track record before trusting their numbers? Europe Electss 2024/25 "Truth in Polling" database profiles polling organisations across Europe:
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