Overview
- Reiner Haseloff used his New Year’s address to urge togetherness, respect and civic engagement ahead of the September 6, 2026 state election.
- Framing the contest as a decisive choice, he warned that Saxony-Anhalt either remains governed from the democratic center or moves toward a different system.
- He is not standing for re-election after 15 years in office, and the CDU has named Economics Minister Sven Schulze as its lead candidate.
- Recent polling, including Insa findings, shows the AfD clearly ahead and suggests the CDU–SPD–FDP governing alliance could lose its majority.
- Elsewhere in early campaign moves, Rheinland-Pfalz premier Alexander Schweitzer cautioned that AfD strength is often overstated in pre‑election polls and criticized Economy Minister Katherina Reiche’s focus, while CDU challenger Gordon Schnieder sketched plans to retain the finance ministry and reshape portfolios if he wins.