Angela Merkel urges Germans to defend democracy ahead of Saxony-Anhalt election

Civic appeal at Berliner Festspiele

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed the political climate in Germany during an appearance at the Berliner Festspiele on 29 August. Speaking at the Schaperstraße venue in Wilmersdorf during the event series titled "Die große Unordnung", the 72-year-old former leader called on citizens to actively engage in protecting democratic norms. Merkel argued that defending democratic institutions now requires direct commitment from the public, a necessity that had not been present for decades. Her remarks arrived one week before voters in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt head to the polls. Merkel urged attendees to display courage in defending the constitutional system.

I believe that now, once again, what we haven't had to do for many decades, we must really fight for this democracy and simply stand up, be a little brave, keep our word, and say that this is a wonderful way of life.

Expanding political reach of the AfD

Merkel argued that Alternative for Germany (AfD) has developed into a political phenomenon that spans the entire country rather than remaining confined to eastern regions. While stressing that a majority of German voters do not support the party, she pointed to recent western regional ballots as evidence of its expanding base. In March, the AfD obtained 18.8% of the vote in Baden-Württemberg, nearly doubling its previous result, and took 19.5% in Rhineland-Palatinate two weeks later, its highest state result in the west. Merkel observed that the AfD has partly managed to dominate public discourse from morning to night. She noted that this focus leaves voters uncertain about the distinct policy goals of competing parties, revisiting arguments she previously made at the Re:publica conference in May.

Saxony-Anhalt polling and regional dynamics

In Saxony-Anhalt, approximately 1.8 million eligible voters in a state of 2.1 million residents will vote on 6 September. The ZDF-Politbarometer poll published on 28 August placed the AfD at 40% of voting intentions, compared to the 20.8% the party won in the 2021 state election. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) stood second with 23%, followed by Die Linke at 13%, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) at 9%, the Greens at 6%, and both the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) at 3%. The state intelligence agency in Saxony-Anhalt has classified the regional AfD branch as a confirmed right-wing extremist movement since 2023. Lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund seeks to become the party's first state premier, though federal proceedings regarding the national party classification remain unresolved.

Leadership preferences and federal polling

When asked directly about state leadership, 48% of surveyed voters in Saxony-Anhalt preferred CDU Minister-President Sven Schulze, while 32% backed Siegmund. Schulze took over the premiership in January after Reiner Haseloff stepped down early following nearly 15 years in office. At the national level, an INSA poll conducted for Bild am Sonntag found that 47% of German respondents believe AfD participation in federal government would harm the country, while 36% disagreed and 17% expressed no view. Within that survey, 22% of respondents stated they would be ready to leave Germany if the party entered national government. In addition, a Forsa survey for RTL and n-tv found that only 17% agreed with the party's stance that foreign doctors are unsuitable due to language or cultural differences, and 16% supported the claim that recruiting skilled workers from abroad creates problems.