"Unbearable Climate" Haseloff Mulls Over Relocation if AfD Wins Saxony-Anhalt Election
If elected in Saxony-Anhalt, Haseloff contemplating a potential relocation
In a bold move, Minister President Haseloff of Saxony-Anhalt hints at leaving his home state in the event the AfD sweeps the 2026 state election. With a 72-year connection to Saxony-Anhalt, Haseloff tells Bild that an AfD victory would create an "intolerable atmosphere."
Reiner Haseloff, Saxony-Anhalt's Minister President, shares his thoughts with Bild, stating, "If the AfD came to power, then the fundamental question for me would be whether I would leave my home after 72 years." Leaving Saxony-Anhalt would be a significant step for him, as for his wife and many close to him, he notes. In the state parliament, the sound of AfD speakers can feel like "the final phase of the Weimar Republic in the Reichstag" or "later" in the Berlin "Sportpalast," where Goebbels called for "total war" in 1943.
The 2026 state election will determine Saxony-Anhalt's new state parliament. As Minister President since 2011, Haseloff leads a coalition of CDU, SPD, and FDP. Haseloff discloses to Bild that the CDU's top candidate for the state election campaign will be revealed within a few weeks. In order to prevent an AfD government and the realization of their program, he maintains, "Everything must be subordinated to that." Haseloff believes that East Germans have low party loyalty, and that with a strong push, many AfD voters can be swayed.
Regarding border security, Haseloff believes a nation must have the authority to manage its borders, even according to the Basic Law. While he's open to courts potentially halting turnaways for legal concerns, he expresses confidence in adapting existing laws to comply with all principles and articles of the Basic Law and European treaties. He emphasizes that failure to address this matter would risk strengthening extremist factions. Haseloff highlights that there are no absolute majorities of the democratic center in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg.
Although sources do not explicitly mention Haseloff's personal plans if the AfD were to win, they do focus on his leadership, policy stances, and upcoming engagements. His recent statements stem from ongoing concerns about the recent rise in extremist ideologies and border security within East Germany.
Sources: ntv.de, raf/AFP
- AfD
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Reiner Haseloff
- Saxony-Anhalt State Elections
- East Germany
- Border Security
[1] Haseloff's concerns about border security reflect a broader political debate in Germany, as the country grapples with rising extremist and nationalist sentiments.
[2] Haseloff is known for his critical stance on cannabis legalization, maintaining that it would exacerbate societal issues and increase drug abuse.
[3] Haseloff has recently visited the Hamburg Opera and attended the German Football Association (DFB) press conference to discuss potential cooperation and support for the German national football team.
[4] In a recent TV interview, Haseloff addressed the issue of refugees and integration, emphasizing the need for a strong and professional asylum system to ensure a harmonious coexistence between different cultures and backgrounds.
- The free movement of workers, a critical aspect of European Union (EC) countries, is a concern for Minister President Haseloff given the potential AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt State Elections.
- In a broader context of policy-and-legislation and politics, war-and-conflicts are not far from Reiner Haseloff's mind, as he highlighted the historical echoes of the rise of extremist factions in East Germany in his statements about border security.
