AfD Election Win in East Germany: What It Could Mean for Foreigners

Introduction

Ahead of state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has made its position on immigration and foreign residents unmistakably clear. The party has promised a '180-degree' turn in migration and social policy, and its leading candidate in Saxony-Anhalt has publicly stated his goal of making the state 'as unattractive as possible' for foreigners. For the hundreds of thousands of expats, international workers, asylum seekers, and long-term immigrants living in Germany, these statements — and the prospect of the AfD holding state-level power — raise serious and legitimate questions about safety, rights, and daily life. This article explains what is at stake, what state governments can and cannot do on immigration, and what resources are available to you.

What the AfD Has Promised

The AfD's platform ahead of these elections centres on drastically reducing immigration and making life harder for foreigners already in Germany. Key stated positions include:

• A fundamental reversal of current migration and asylum policy, described by party leaders as a '180-degree turn'
• Efforts to make Saxony-Anhalt 'as unattractive as possible' to foreign nationals — a statement made by the party's state-level leader
• Cuts to social benefits for asylum seekers and refugees
• Stronger enforcement of deportation and return policies
• Reducing or eliminating support for integration programmes, including language courses

It is important to note that these are campaign promises. What a state government can actually implement is limited by federal law and EU regulations, which take precedence over state policy in most immigration matters.

What State Governments Can and Cannot Do on Immigration

Germany's immigration law is primarily federal. This means that residence permits, the Aufenthaltstitel, asylum decisions made by BAMF, and the core rules of the Ausländerbehörde operate under national legislation that no single state government can unilaterally override. An AfD-led state government cannot, for example, cancel residence permits that have been lawfully granted under federal law.

However, state governments do have meaningful levers that can affect the day-to-day experience of foreigners:

• Tone and enforcement culture at local authorities: State governments set the political culture in which local Ausländerbehörden operate. A hostile political environment can translate into stricter or slower processing, less discretion in borderline cases, and a less welcoming attitude at public offices.
• Integration support: States fund and administer many integration services, including some language and vocational courses beyond the federal Integrationskurs. An AfD government could cut or restructure these programmes.
• Housing and social support for asylum seekers: States manage accommodation and some social support for people in the asylum process. Policy here can be tightened at the state level.
• Policing and public safety: State governments control police forces. The political climate set by a state government influences how incidents of discrimination or hate crime are prioritised and investigated.

What This Means for the Expat Community

For skilled workers, EU citizens, students, and others with stable legal status in Germany, an AfD state government is unlikely to directly change your residence rights in the short term. Federal law protects your Aufenthaltstitel. However, the practical and social environment may shift:

• Public discourse and political rhetoric that targets foreigners can increase social tension and the risk of discrimination
• Local bureaucratic processes may become slower or more difficult in states governed by parties hostile to immigration
• Cuts to integration programmes could affect access to language courses and support services
• The general atmosphere in some communities may become less welcoming

For asylum seekers and refugees, or those with more precarious residence situations, the stakes are higher. State-level decisions on accommodation, support payments, and the pace of processing can have a direct and immediate impact on daily life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an AfD state government cancel my residence permit or work visa?

No. Residence permits and work visas are governed by federal law — specifically the Aufenthaltsgesetz (Residence Act) — and by EU regulations where applicable. A state government cannot unilaterally revoke lawfully granted permits. Your legal status in Germany is protected by national and European law, regardless of which party governs a particular state.

Should I be worried about my safety as a foreigner in AfD-leaning regions?

This is a concern that many members of the expat and immigrant community take seriously, and it should not be dismissed. Research and crime statistics consistently show that regions with stronger far-right political movements have higher rates of racially motivated incidents. If you live in or are moving to eastern Germany, it is worth knowing your rights and the resources available to you. Organisations such as the Amadeu Antonio Stiftung, the Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes (Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency), and local counselling centres provide support for people who experience discrimination or hate incidents.

Where can I get reliable information about my rights as a foreigner in Germany?

The BAMF website provides comprehensive information on residence rights, asylum procedures, and integration programmes in multiple languages. Your local Ausländerbehörde is the official contact for questions about your specific residence status. For legal advice on immigration matters, consult a certified immigration lawyer (Fachanwalt für Ausländerrecht). For discrimination-related issues, the Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes offers free initial counselling.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Election results in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will not immediately change the fundamental legal framework protecting foreigners in Germany. But they matter — for the political atmosphere, for state-funded support services, and for the broader direction of German politics. Stay informed, know your rights, and connect with community organisations in your area. If you are concerned about your specific residence situation, speak with an immigration lawyer rather than relying on political speculation.

Source: The Local Germany