An AfD Government Could Cost Saxony-Anhalt Billions

In the recent state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, a majority voted for the AfD – a party openly hostile to the EU. If the AfD forms a government and implements its manifesto, its policies would likely violate EU values, such as discriminating against women and minorities or undermining democracy and the rule of law.

However, the European Union would not have to stand idly by. As it did in Poland and Hungary, Brussels would be obligated to freeze billions in EU funds. The financial damage the AfD could inflict on Saxony-Anhalt would be immense. No other German state benefits as much per capita from EU funding as Saxony-Anhalt. During the current funding period (2021–2027), its citizens receive an average of over €650 per person from Brussels. In total, nearly €3 billion from the current EU budget flows into the state.

In the past, the EU has withheld funds from Hungary and Poland after illiberal governments attacked judicial independence, discriminated against minorities, and misused funds. In Poland, the European Parliament and Commission exerted enormous pressure on municipalities that had declared themselves “LGBTI-free zones.” After funding was frozen, the affected regions repealed or weakened their resolutions.

Daniel Freund, Coordinator of the Greens in the Budgetary Control Committee:

“We Greens will be watching closely what the AfD does in Saxony-Anhalt. If a far-right government emerges and, as announced, violates European values or even misuses funds, we will not hesitate. I would then push in Brussels to freeze EU funds flowing to an AfD-led government. The cases of Hungary and Poland have shown how important and effective this mechanism is in protecting democracy and the rule of law. EU funds come with conditions – even an EU-hostile AfD must comply with them.”