Germany's far-right AfD party is polling strongly ahead of Saxony-Anhalt's state election in September, with projections suggesting it could win an outright absolute majority — a first for any German state. Their cultural program, now under the spotlight, takes direct aim at what party officials call 'modern-thinking' culture. Targeted for defunding: the world-famous Bauhaus heritage, Holocaust remembrance institutions, and theaters promoting diversity and inclusion. For expats living in Germany — or considering a move — this is more than a local political story. It signals a potential reordering of public values and institutional support for multicultural life in one of Germany's 16 states.
The AfD's cultural platform for Saxony-Anhalt is explicit about what it opposes. Party documents and statements have criticized public funding for:
If the AfD wins an absolute majority, they would be able to pass budget decisions and cultural policy changes in the state parliament without needing coalition partners — a significant structural shift.
German cultural policy is largely decided at the state (Länder) level, meaning a state government has real power over museum funding, theater subsidies, public broadcasting contributions, and educational programs. An AfD-controlled Saxony-Anhalt could:
For the broader expat community, the concern extends beyond one state's arts budget. When a major political party systematically devalues diversity, multicultural expression, and minority history, it shapes the public atmosphere in ways that are felt in workplaces, neighborhoods, and schools.
The Bauhaus school, founded in Weimar in 1919 and later based in Dessau, is one of Germany's most internationally recognized cultural exports. Its influence spans architecture, graphic design, furniture, and art education worldwide. Saxony-Anhalt's state government currently funds the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation, which hosts researchers, students, and visitors from around the world.
The prospect of reduced or restructured funding for the Bauhaus under an AfD government has alarmed cultural professionals and international observers. For expats working in design, architecture, education, or the arts, this is a concrete professional and community concern, not merely an abstract political one.
Saxony-Anhalt's state election is scheduled for September 2025. Current polling — while subject to change — places the AfD ahead of all other parties by a significant margin. Under German electoral law, a party with an absolute majority in the state parliament (Landtag) can govern alone, without forming a coalition. All other mainstream parties have so far maintained a so-called Brandmauer (firewall), refusing to govern in coalition with the AfD. If the AfD wins an outright majority, that firewall becomes irrelevant.
No. Residence permits, visas, and Aufenthaltstitel are regulated at the federal level by federal law and administered by local Ausländerbehörden, which follow national guidelines. A state government cannot change immigration law. However, the local administrative culture and public atmosphere can be shaped by state-level political priorities.
The direct legal effects are confined to Saxony-Anhalt. However, analysts and civil society groups note that if the AfD successfully governs a state alone and implements its agenda, it provides a political model for other states where the party is competitive. Expats across Germany have reason to follow this story as an indicator of political direction.
Yes. Organizations such as the Landesnetzwerk der Migrantenorganisationen Sachsen-Anhalt (LAMSA) advocate for migrant and multicultural communities in the state. If you live in Saxony-Anhalt and have concerns about changes to local integration programs or cultural funding, LAMSA and similar civil society groups are a practical first point of contact.
EU citizens can vote in local (municipal) elections in Germany but not in state (Landtag) or federal elections. Non-EU citizens cannot vote in any German public elections. Political participation for non-EU expats must go through other channels: civic organizations, employer associations, migrant advisory councils (Migrantenbeiräte), and direct contact with elected officials.
The September 2025 Saxony-Anhalt election is one of the most politically consequential votes in Germany this year. For expats, the immediate practical impact depends on where you live and what institutions you interact with. If you are in Saxony-Anhalt, monitor local news closely and connect with migrant community organizations. If you are elsewhere in Germany, treat this as a barometer of the broader political climate.
For anyone invested in Germany's multicultural public life — as a resident, worker, student, or cultural professional — the direction of cultural policy in the country's eastern states is worth following carefully in the months ahead.
Source: DW English
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