Saxony-Anhalt: era Haseloff ends in 2026-election campaign without an incumbent bonus

On the terrace of the CDU with a view to the Magdeburg Elbe, Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) reports of his years of plan: build a successor, organize the transition and then retire. Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister of Economic Affairs and state party leader Sven Schulze stands next to the 71-year-old and says that he has had a provision in recent years.

Down -to -earthness, experience and stability should give the CDU a result in the state parliament election on September 6, 2026 that Schulze paves the way into the State Chancellery. A few hours earlier it was still open whether you wouldn’t rely on Haseloff.

In the end, they decided on the scenario that many in the CDU would have considered many people to be unfavorable and would have liked to avoid – an election campaign without an incumbent bonus against the self -confident AfD. But the longest -serving prime minister in Germany is breaking up. He announced years ago that this was his last legislative period, says Haseloff. “You all know my age.”

But Haseloff emphasizes the importance of the next choice. “If the CDU is not politically successful, it will be very difficult for the democratic future in our country,” he says, referring to the advantages of his successor. Schulze teaches experience and format to get the transition. He also stands for a clear demarcation to the AfD.

A new state parliament will be elected in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, 2026. Haseloff has been prime minister since 2011. First he led a black and red alliance, then a black, red-green coalition and since 2021 in Saxony-Anhalt CDU, SPD and FDP together. Each partner should also be able to score their points until the election, emphasizes Haseloff. There should not be an early handover of the season, the head of government wants to go through by autumn 2026.

Haseloff had left open until the end whether he tried a fourth time. It is also considered a “bulwark against the right” for political competitors. In June, Haseloff still had a political exchange of blows in the state parliament with AfD top candidate Ulrich Siegmund. “This is my home country, you won’t get any,” said the head of government at the time, after Siegmund had previously sharply criticized him. “I will do everything to never get government responsibility.”

Many understood that as an announcement to the AfD. And Haseloff continues to keep it upright. The government responsibility sought by the AfD would be a disaster for this country, emphasizes Haseloff. AfD top candidate Siegmund counters in a narrow press release that the decision is almost irrelevant for his party. “There will be no CDU top candidates with the positive departure that Saxony-Anhalt needs.”

AfD sees itself on triumphal march

The AfD, classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Saxony-Anhalt as right-wing extremist, sees itself on a triumphal march in the country. After the state election, the party wants to be so strong that it can rule alone. Siegmund is successful on social networks, and the other parties have not yet been able to keep up with the number of posts published.

Schulze knows that he has to stand up before he can follow in the footsteps of the oldest prime minister in Germany. The 46-year-old announces increased activities on the Internet, but primarily refers to his experience. Follower are “good and good,” said Schulze. But for such a country, the 5,000 telephone numbers he owns are ten times more crucial. “And I think people recognize that.”

Economic policy from the State Chancellery

Sven Schulze has been CDU state chief since 2021 and since then also Minister for Economics, Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry in Haseloff’s cabinet. Previously, the man from the Harz was a member of a member of the European Parliament. As a minister, Schulze managed to pacify conflicts with farmers. In economic policy, however, he was not only shadowing in Haseloff’s shadow when the chip manufacturer Intel in Haseloff. Regardless of whether groundbreaking, green week in Berlin or structural change – the State Chancellery was often tone.

Should Haseloff Schulze have not had to give opportunities in the past to shine? The head of government rejects the criticism on request. “He was always there,” said Haseloff. And Schulze also regularly emphasizes on appointments that he knows the situation of the economy exactly and is a state child. There is almost nothing better than being able to work for his home country, says Schulze.

Haseloff wanted to break up in 2021

Haseloff had actually wanted to end in 2021. But he started again. He had appeared as a visual and audible manager during the Corona period. In the struggle for a compromise on the coal phase -out, the Wittenberger repeatedly stepped in front of cameras in Berlin and wanted to get as much as possible for the Central German territory.

With an unexpectedly clear election victory in the 2021 state election, the CDU with Haseloff at the top referred the AfD to the barriers for a long time. At that time, the CDU had reached 37.1 percent of the votes and the AfD to 20.8 percent. But the situation has now been reversed: In the Bundestag election in February, the AfD had significantly distanced the CDU with 37.1 percent of the second votes in the country. The Christian Democrats had come to 19.2 percent.