AfD gears up for state elections: Wants to lead new government

At the start of its state party conference in Glauchau, the AfD reaffirmed its ambition to become the strongest force in Saxony in the state elections in September. After the election, the AfD has a real chance of posing the question of power and leading a new government, said state leader Jörg Urban on Thursday evening.

He did not say with whom the AfD wants to form a coalition. So far, no other party represented in the state parliament is prepared to form such an alliance. Federal chairman Tino Chrupalla spoke of a fateful year: "We want to take on government responsibility." He was particularly critical of the CDU and its state chairman Michael Kretschmer, whom he dubbed a "political bootlegger".

At its party conference, the AfD intends to draw up its list for the elections on September 1. State leader Urban himself is considered a promising candidate for first place. The AfD was recently ahead of the CDU in most polls. In 2019, it came second behind the CDU (32.1) with 27.5 percent.