Saxony premier warns of economic “spiral” as AfD support grows
Saxony minister-president warns Germany risks an economic “spiral” and rising AfD support unless policymakers act decisively on energy costs, public budgets and migration.
Saxony’s minister-president told a national weekly in a wide-ranging interview that Germany is sliding into an economic “spiral” that threatens municipal services, scientific investment and industrial competitiveness, and that failure to deliver tangible improvements is fuelling support for the AfD. He urged a shift from vision-setting to concrete measures that citizens feel in daily life, arguing the center must restore trust by solving bread-and-butter problems rather than merely debating principles. The premier also defended his minority government approach in Saxony and dismissed cooperation with the AfD while warning that eastern states face entrenched protest voters.
Municipal shortfalls and the risk of a downward spiral
The premier painted a stark fiscal picture, saying local governments are already operating with significantly reduced resources and warning of knock-on effects for culture, education and social services. He cited an estimated shortfall for municipalities that, if unaddressed, will shrink funding for libraries, school social work and other community staples. The broader concern is that cuts in public investment and research will erode Germany’s innovative capacity and trap the economy in a low-growth dynamic. For him, reversing that trend requires political choices that restore fiscal room through growth rather than only through austerity.
Energy costs as a competitiveness issue
A recurring theme in the interview was the cost of energy and its consequences for German industry, with the premier urging a reassessment of policy levers that drive electricity prices upward. He argued that the current pathway to climate targets is imposing unsustainable expense and risk on energy-intensive sectors, and said options such as revising CO2-related pricing and unleashing regulatory relief should be considered. The speaker emphasized that climate goals remain important but must be pursued in ways that preserve industrial jobs and international competitiveness. Comparing Germany’s situation to Poland, he said policymakers should ask how neighboring economies achieve lower energy and labor costs and draw practical lessons.
Migration, asylum policy and political trust
On migration, the premier linked rising support for the AfD to perceptions that established parties ignore voters’ concerns or stigmatize those who raise them. He said reducing irregular entries is only part of the task; effective and visible returns of rejected asylum seekers are necessary for the public to perceive change. Recalling successful asylum-law adjustments in the 1990s as a precedent, he suggested durable political solutions could rebuild confidence in mainstream parties. He warned against both branding critics as extremists and overreliance on deplatforming; instead, he urged measures that address root causes and demonstrate government effectiveness.
Coalition arithmetic, minority rule and the AfD barrier
The premier explained why his administration in Saxony functions as a minority government, saying the arrangement grew out of political reality and offers stability in the current landscape. He stressed that being the largest party does not guarantee a conventional coalition and described broad, issue-based cooperation with non-government parties when necessary — notably on budget matters. Repeatedly, he ruled out any formal cooperation with the AfD, citing the party’s leadership and programmatic positions as disqualifying for government responsibility. At the same time, he acknowledged the difficulty of delivering promised policy change without reliable partners, noting tensions between the CDU’s priorities and those of potential partners on the left and center.
Reducing AfD support by delivering solutions, not showdowns
Confronting the question of whether letting the AfD govern would reveal its limits, the premier rejected that approach, arguing it would risk empowering extremists rather than defanging them. He said mass demonstrations and rhetorical pledges to exclude the AfD are inadequate; what works is restoring voters’ faith in institutions by solving tangible problems. The premier proposed a “pact for Germany” involving employers, unions and political parties to pursue growth-enhancing reforms and cost reductions, with a particular focus on restoring price competitiveness. He also expressed hope that the SPD could reclaim its role as a broad-based workers’ party and help forge pragmatic compromises to address the economic strains he described.
The interview lays out a diagnostic familiar in current German debates: economic strain, energy-price pressure and migration concerns are feeding political disaffection that benefits the AfD, particularly in the east. The Saxony premier’s prescription centers on policy delivery — lowering costs, reforming regulation and making returns enforcement visible — paired with a political strategy that preserves democratic norms while seeking cross-party pragmatic solutions. Whether that mix will blunt the AfD’s appeal remains the central political test for regional and federal leaders in the months ahead.
