The Saxony-Anhalt Result Is a Warning for Berlin: Let’s Go and Vote and Defend Democracy. The state election held in Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September has shown once again how serious the danger facing democracy and the culture of living together in Germany is. The AfD came first by a clear margin with around 44 per cent of the vote and won 39 of the 83 seats in the state parliament. Although the AfD fell short of an absolute majority, this result is deeply worrying in terms of the extent that racist, xenophobic and far-right politics has reached in Germany.
This success of the AfD must not be seen merely as an election result. The growing strength of the AfD’s political line, which excludes migrants and certain sections of society, poses a serious threat to equal citizenship, human rights, the rule of law and democratic values. When a political party stokes fear and division in society, it weakens the sense of belonging to this country among people of different backgrounds and directly threatens our coexistence.
The outcome of the Saxony-Anhalt election clearly shows the scale of the danger facing democracy in Germany. The AfD’s share of the vote reveals that the far right is exploiting social insecurity and economic and social problems to deepen fear and division in society. The rise of the AfD threatens not only the political balance of power but also the free democratic basic order, the rule of law, the principle of equal citizenship and the culture of living together. It is vitally important that democratic forces take shared responsibility in the face of this development and stand up for democratic values.
We regard the picture that has emerged in Saxony-Anhalt as a serious warning for the state of Berlin as well, and we believe that a strong democratic will against racism, xenophobia and social division must be made clear.
Now it is Berlin’s turn. On 20 September 2026, elections to the Berlin House of Representatives and the district assemblies will take place in Berlin. The picture that has emerged in Saxony-Anhalt should be a serious warning to everyone who believes in democratic values.
We therefore call on everyone who is entitled to vote to take part in the elections and to express their democratic will at the ballot box. Voting is not only a right but also an important responsibility for the future of democracy. Not voting means leaving the decisions to others. Especially at a time when racism, xenophobia and social division are on the rise, it is vitally important that those who uphold democratic and liberal values go to the polls.
We want a society in which everyone living in Berlin has equal rights and no one is excluded because of their origin, faith or identity. Keeping the influence of racist and xenophobic politics in society, and its share of the vote in the elections, as low as possible is vitally important for protecting democracy, the rule of law and our coexistence.
Let us use our vote to defend the rule of law, human dignity, democracy and living together.
The result in Saxony-Anhalt is a warning for Berlin. Let us take this warning seriously: let us go and vote, make our democratic will known and not allow racist politics to gain ground.
Alevi Community of Berlin – Cemevi
