‘Firewall’ breach? Germany is heading for potential upheaval in Saxony-Anhalt – here’s what you need to know

The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party could form the first regional government in its history This weekend, Germans in the state of Saxony-Anhalt will elect their regional legislature and, by proxy, the new state government. A normally routine event in German political life that happens every five years, this year’s vote is drawing attention far beyond the state as its results could send shockwaves through German and, arguably, European politics.The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) – known for its anti-immigration stance – leads polls by a wide margin and could secure enough seats to form the regional government even if all other parties refuse a coalition with it.Berlin is apparently so wary of this potential outcome that it is actively preparing mechanisms to cut a potential AfD government off from some federal resources, such as the intelligence-sharing network, according to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.What do polls say?The AfD enjoys between 40% and 43% support in the state – about double that of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at 22-23%, according to the latest surveys conducted on behalf of the public broadcasters German ...