First published in Respekt.
From the perspective of the people of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany, much remains at stake on Monday (7 September).
Following Sunday’s election (6 September), a record turnout of around 80 percent and more than 44 percent of the vote for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) have made one thing clear: The positions of a party deemed extremist by the state’s domestic intelligence service have become the new social centre ground in the former east German state of Saxony-Anhalt.
They include proposals to fly German flags in schools; for theatres and galleries to deliberately support culture that strengthens German identity; to stop constantly seeking lessons from the Nazi-era in history classes and, in an effort to overcome the alleged “cult of guilt”, instead devote greater care to memorials for German victims of the world wars.
Parents who object to the state’s influence over their children in civics or history lessons should be able to educate them at home. And “culturally foreign” workers should no longer be allowed to arrive.
