State election - AfD will have more than 40 percent in Saxony - Goal: Power shift
For the state election on September 1st, the AfD has set a goal of achieving 40 percent or more results. The European election, in which the party became the strongest force in Saxony with 31.8 percent, has given momentum to his party, said Spitzenkandidate Jörg Urban. "Here in the East, here in Saxony, we can make a breakthrough," he called to his supporters. His party no longer wants to be opposition but to govern. "We don't want any piece of the cake, we want the bakery."
At the Dresden Schloßplatz, the AfD officially launched its campaign on Saturday. "It's possible that we will govern alone in Saxony," said General Secretary Jan Zwerg. From now on, his party will be on the hunt. They also rely on the controversial Maximilian Krah, who spoke as a speaker in Dresden. The candidate for the European election was expelled from the AfD delegation in the European Parliament. He had caused headlines for weeks due to alleged Russia and China connections.
Krah: AfD will reorient school plans
Saxony should be a signal for change, and Urban should be the first Minister-President of the AfD, said Krah. Schools are "indoctrinated from the left" and his party wants to have a say there in the future. This includes a different orientation of school plans.
According to the election program, the AfD wants to hold on to climate-damaging coal power from lignite. The existing power plants should remain on the grid after 2038, and the open-cast mines in the Leipzig and Lusatia region should continue to be operated. The party is also flirting with the construction of nuclear power plants in the Free State, while the construction of wind and solar power plants is to be more strongly regulated.
The combustion of lignite coal is considered the main source of climate-damaging CO2 in Saxony. According to the State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology, more than half of the CO2 emissions came from the Boxberg and Lippendorf power plants last time.
The AfD passed its election program at a state party conference in May but initially kept the complete text secret. In the 108-page program, the party promises its voters, among other things, a baby welcome payment of 5,000 Euro. However, this should only go to German parents who have lived in Saxony for at least ten years with their main residence and have completed their education or are employed.
"Transfer Centers" for asylum applicants
The percentage of non-German children in kindergartens should be limited, and asylum applicants should be housed in central "Transfer Centers" under the supervision of the Interior Ministry. The party also speaks of "repatriation." When right-wing extremists use this term, they usually mean that a large number of people of foreign origin should leave the country – also under coercion.
Additionally, the party advocates for stricter sanctions for welfare recipients and the abolition and re-establishment of the Constitutional Protection Agency. The agency has classified the party as a reliably right-wing extremist tendency. The AfD denies this and is fighting it legally.
The AfD, with a goal of achieving 40% or more in the September 1st state election, believes they can make a breakthrough in Saxony, as indicated by their strong performance in the European election. Jörg Urban, the party's Spitzenkandidate, encouraged supporters to make this happen. The party no longer aims to be opposition, instead desiring to govern, with Urban contending they want the 'bakery' rather than just a 'piece of the cake'.
At their Dresden Schloßplatz campaign launch, AfD's General Secretary Jan Zwerg suggested the possibility of governing Saxony alone. They plan to rely on controversial figure Maximilian Krah, who was expelled from the European Parliament delegation due to allegations of Russia and China connections.
Krah, campaigning for the AfD, suggested Saxony should be a signal for change, with Urban as the first Minister-President. He criticized schools for being 'indoctrinated from the left', promising a different orientation for future school plans.
According to the AfD's election program, they intend to maintain climate-damaging coal power from lignite, with existing power plants remaining operational past 2038. They are also considering the construction of nuclear power plants, while regulating wind and solar power plant construction more strictly.
The AfD's election program, kept secret until a May state party conference, promises German parents living in Saxony for ten years among other benefits, while non-German children's percentage in kindergartens would be limited. Asylum applicants would be housed in 'Transfer Centers' under Interior Ministry supervision.
The AfD advocates for stricter welfare recipient sanctions, abolishing and re-establishing the Constitutional Protection Agency, which has classified them as a reliably right-wing extremist tendency. The party denies this classification and is fighting it legally.
