Lawmakers in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt on Wednesday elected Sven Schulze as the new governor, aiming to prevent a victory for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in a regional election due in September.
Schulze, 46, a member of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), replaces long-serving governor Reiner Haseloff, 71, who has led the state of about 2.2 million people since 2011.
Haseloff had originally planned to serve his full term. But with rising support for the AfD, he announced he would step down early, allowing Schulze, the state’s former economy minister, to gain visibility ahead of the Sept. 6 election.
The AfD, Germany’s second-largest party in the federal parliament, is strongest in the poorer eastern states. Its main focus is opposition to migration, but it also taps into frustration over economic issues. Mainstream parties refuse to cooperate with AfD.
In past elections, popular incumbent governors in eastern states, including Haseloff in 2021, managed to defeat AfD challenges. By stepping down early, Haseloff gives Schulze a better chance to consolidate support before the vote.
So far, AfD has led in one state election, in Thuringia in 2024, but has not yet taken power at the state level.