Migrants prepare to leave Saxony-Anhalt as fears grow over an AfD victory

Migrant communities in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt are considering leaving as next Sunday’s regional elections could give the far-right Alternative for Germany party a historic victory.

The AfD, known for its anti-immigration and anti-Islam positions, is seeking to win an outright majority for the first time, which would allow it to govern alone. Ulrich Siegmund, the party’s candidate for state premier, has said he would immediately launch a deportation campaign. Although he insists that the measures would affect only people who are in Germany illegally, the language used during the campaign has heightened uncertainty and fear among foreign communities.

In Magdeburg, around 150 migrant-owned restaurants, kiosks and barbershops temporarily suspended operations in protest against the spread of a xenophobic climate. Among those considering leaving is Syrian doctor Ayman Alyoussef, head of a cardiology service in Quedlinburg. He says his family has faced hostility on the streets despite his role in saving patients’ lives, and warns that he may leave if hatred toward foreigners worsens. Meanwhile, economists and employers warn that the deportation or departure of migrants would further exacerbate the demographic crisis.

Since German reunification, Saxony-Anhalt has lost almost a quarter of its population. The health care system is expected to feel the most severe consequences. The director of the clinic in Quedlinburg said the hospital would be forced to close if it did not have doctors and nurses of foreign origin.