Haseloff thinks about saying goodbye: AfD makes home unbearable!

Haseloff thinks about saying goodbye: AfD makes home unbearable!

Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) sees his future in danger. In a recent statement, he made it clear that he is seriously considering leaving his state if the AfD becomes the strongest force in the upcoming state elections. “I don’t want to live in a country where the AfD is the government,” said Haseloff in an interview. He describes a potential AfD takeover of power as an “unbearable atmosphere” that also motivates his wife and many people around him to think about moving away. Haseloff, who has served in his role as Prime Minister since 2011, will have to prepare to make a difficult decision because the next state election in Saxony-Anhalt will take place on September 6, 2026 and the AfD has established itself as the second strongest faction in the state parliament, led by top candidate Ulrich Siegmund.

A look at the surveys shows how worrying this development is. According to a survey, the AfD recently reached a new record high of 20.8 percent in the federal government and has become the strongest opposition party in the Bundestag. In Saxony-Anhalt, the political landscape is characterized by increasing polarization and right-wing extremist tendencies. Here the AfD was classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as “certainly right-wing extremist”, which has long been the case in the federal states of Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. Haseloff compares the current situation in the state parliament with the last phase of the Weimar Republic and warns of the problematic attitudes that are spreading in society.

Growing concerns about democracy

The institutes show that there is a noticeable shift to the right in Germany. Over 20,000 politically motivated crimes with a right-wing extremist background are registered every year, with physical injuries and xenophobia being the most common motives. A shocking 7.1 percent of respondents support a dictatorship under certain circumstances - these survey results highlight the growing dissatisfaction with democracy. Despite the fact that 85 percent of the population see democracy as a good form of government, 55 percent are dissatisfied with how it works.

Haseloff has to bear the heavy burden of political responsibility. He leaves it open whether he will run again as the CDU's top candidate, but the possibility of moving away no longer seems unreasonable. Having “family all over Germany” leads him and others to look at theater in the country from afar. Given how the political landscape is developing, the issue needs to be discussed seriously. The next few months will be crucial for the future not only of Haseloff, but of the whole of Saxony-Anhalt.

It is clear that the upcoming elections will play a decisive role in the political culture of the state. The polls and the reactions of political leaders confirm that for many it is time to reflect on society's fundamental values. Where it will lead is anyone's guess, but one thing is certain: something is happening and it won't be easy to stay on course.