Campaign for a new leader in 2026, without extra political advantages for Haseloff

Campaign for a new leader in 2026, without extra political advantages for Haseloff

Saxony-Anhalt, a state in eastern Germany, is gearing up for its 2026 state election on the 6th of September, which will determine the 9th Landtag (state parliament) of the region.

Background and Political Landscape

In the 2021 state election, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) emerged as the strongest party, securing a 16-percentage-point lead over the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD), which remained the second-largest party despite slight losses. The Left Party and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) suffered losses, with the SPD recording its worst historical result in Saxony-Anhalt. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens narrowly maintained representation in the state parliament.

The current government is a black-red-yellow "Germany Coalition" of the CDU, SPD, and FDP, holding a clear majority with 56 of 97 seats. The current Minister-President is Reiner Haseloff (CDU), who has been in office since 2011, but he announced in August 2025 that he will not run again as the CDU’s top candidate in 2026. Instead, Sven Schulze, the State Minister for Economic Affairs and current CDU state leader, intends to run as the CDU candidate.

The AfD remains a strong political force in the region, casting a significant shadow over the 2026 election, in the context of rising right-wing populism in eastern Germany.

Key Players

• Sven Schulze (CDU): Born in 1979, former Member of the European Parliament, now State Minister for Economic Affairs and CDU state leader. Expected CDU candidate for Minister-President in 2026.
• Reiner Haseloff (CDU): Current Minister-President since 2011, stepping down from candidacy in 2026.
• AfD leadership: Candidates and campaign details for AfD are expected to be influential, given their strong voter base and strategic aims for the election.
• Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen): Positioned as a key democratic counterforce against the far-right AfD, focusing strongly on climate protection, social justice, and democracy.
• Other parties like SPD, FDP, and The Left will also compete but currently have weaker positions.

Political Context and Challenges

The 2026 election is one of five important state elections in Germany that year, amid federal-level challenges including budgetary pressures and disputes within coalition governments. The CDU/SPD coalition at the federal level faces economic uncertainties that may influence voter sentiment in Saxony-Anhalt.

The AfD seeks to capitalize on its base and position itself as a kingmaker or challenger to established coalitions. Environmental and social issues are prominent for parties like the Greens, who emphasize climate action and protecting democratic values.

The Race for the State Chancellery

Haseloff emphasizes the importance of the next election, stating that a failure for the CDU could pose a threat to the democratic future of the country. In the 2021 state election, the CDU with Haseloff at the helm won with an unexpectedly clear victory, putting the long-time equally strong AfD in its place.

The CDU hopes that groundedness, experience, and stability will secure a result in the September 2026 state election that will pave the way for Schulze to the state chancellery. Sven Schulze has served as Minister for Economic Affairs, Tourism, Agriculture, and Forestry in Haseloff's cabinet since 2021.

Haseloff has been Minister President since 2011 and has led various coalitions during his tenure. Sven Schulze emphasizes the importance of having access to phone numbers of people, stating that it is ten times more important than followers on social networks.

The AfD top candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, is successful on social networks, while other parties struggle to keep up with the number of published posts. AfD top candidate Siegmund counters that the party's positive breakthrough will not happen with any CDU top candidate.

Saxony-Anhalt's Minister President Reiner Haseloff (CDU) has announced his plan to step down after the state election in September 2026. Haseloff is seen by political competitors as a "bulwark against the right" and has had political exchanges with the AfD's top candidate, Ulrich Siegmund.

References:

1. Wikipedia: Saxony-Anhalt state election, 2021
2. Deutsche Welle: Saxony-Anhalt election 2026: The race for power
3. Tagesspiegel: AfD will be strong enough to govern alone in Saxony-Anhalt
4. BBC: Germany's Reiner Haseloff to step down as Saxony-Anhalt leader
5. The Local: Greens aim to be kingmaker in Saxony-Anhalt state election
6. The upcoming 2026 state election in Saxony-Anhalt will determine the composition of the 9th Landtag, as the CDU secured a significant lead over the AfD in the 2021 election.
7. Sven Schulze, the CDU state leader and State Minister for Economic Affairs, is expected to run as the CDU's candidate for Minister-President in 2026.
8. Reiner Haseloff, the current Minister-President, has announced he will not run again in 2026, stepping down after more than a decade in office.
9. The AfD remains a strong political force in Saxony-Anhalt, casting a significant shadow over the 2026 election, given the rise of right-wing populism in eastern Germany.
10. The Greens, positioned as a key democratic counterforce against the far-right AfD, are focusing on climate protection, social justice, and democracy.
11. The CDU is emphasizing groundedness, experience, and stability in preparation for the September 2026 state election.
12. The AfD seeks to capitalize on its base and position itself as a key player or challenger to established coalitions in the 2026 election.
13. Environmental and social issues are prominent for parties like the Greens, who have strong opinions on climate action and protecting democratic values.
14. The CDU's victory in the 2021 state election, with Haseloff at the helm, was unusually clear, putting the AfD in its place.
15. Sven Schulze, the anticipated CDU candidate for Minister-President in 2026, has served as Minister for Economic Affairs since 2021.
16. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's top candidate for the 2026 state election, is successful on social networks, while other parties struggle to keep up with the number of published posts.
17. Reiner Haseloff is seen by political competitors as a "bulwark against the right" and has had political disputes with the AfD's top candidate, Ulrich Siegmund.
18. The 2026 election is one of five important state elections in Germany that year, set against federal-level challenges including budgetary pressures and coalition disputes.
19. The CDU's hopes for success in the September 2026 state election could pave the way for Sven Schulze to take the state chancellery.
20. Saxony-Anhalt will see a transition in leadership as Reiner Haseloff steps down after the 2026 state election, concluding more than a decade in service as Minister-President.

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