AfD Election Platform Put to the Test: Study Finds a 2.2 Billion Euro Shortfall:
The AfD promises more money, lower taxes, and no debt. The IWH has crunched the ...
merkur.de/wirtschaft/nicht-finanzierbar-afd-wahlprogramm-im-realitaetscheck-oekonomen-halten-ideen-fuer-zr-94439016.html
Photo: merkur.de · view article
IWH reports a funding gap in AfD plansOnly 28 of 136 cost-relevant measures could be reliably quantified, according to the institute.
Key FactsAug 13, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: merkur.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: merkur.de
- Saxony-Anhalt’s state election is scheduled for 6 September 2026; polls currently put the AfD at 41–42 percent and suggest it could win an absolute majority.
- The Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) compared the platform with official budget data and calculated a funding gap of at least €2.2 billion annually, while only 28 of 136 cost-relevant measures could be reliably quantified.
- According to the IWH, the 28 quantifiable measures would cost about €1.6 billion annually; replacing €877 million in planned annual new borrowing produces an identifiable funding need of about €2.5 billion against savings of roughly €243 million.
- The IWH says actual costs could be higher because projects such as expanded road infrastructure and additional public-sector staff were not included in the calculation.
Even in parts, the AfD's election program is not financially sustainable in the medium term— Reint Gropp, IWH President, according to a press release from the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle (IWH)
Story Details
| Last Updated | |
| Total Articles | 2 |
Main Topics
government document presenting the government's proposed revenues and spending for a fiscal year
News on this topic
AfD election program put to the test: Study finds a 2.2 billion euro shortfall: The AfD promises more money, lower taxes, and no debt. The IWH has done the math ...
tz.de/wirtschaft/nicht-finanzierbar-afd-wahlprogramm-im-realitaetscheck-oekonomen-halten-ideen-fuer-zr-94439016.html
Similar to This
Previous
CDU Mayor Prange in Saxony-Anhalt is to be expelled from the party following an election appeal and a donation to the AfD
n-tv.de/politik/CDU-Buergermeister-Prange-in-Sachsen-Anhalt-soll-nach-Wahlaufruf-und-Spende-fuer-AfD-aus-Partei-ausgeschlossen-werden-id31444854.html
85 percent above pre-crisis levels: Germany's wave of bankruptcies is putting more and more companies at risk
focus.de/finanzen/news/85-prozent-ueber-vorkrisenniveau-deutschlands-pleitewelle-bringt-immer-mehr-firmen-in-gefahr_fc07eeaf-0bae-4336-9d84-8bb73becdfda.html
,regionOfInterest=(1024,751)&hash=38710079095e6b1c63035165964bb69156d17ac93df0f37b9a8385c97982f833)
What does it mean for women when the AfD governs?: The AfD has won the election in Saxony-Anhalt. What does that mean for women? A look at their election ...
elle.de/female-empowerment/afd-bedeutung-fuer-frauen
AfD election promises under scrutiny: Billions are missing for implementation: The AfD promises a lot in Saxony-Anhalt. Researchers have analyzed their ...
stern.de/politik/deutschland/afd-wahlversprechen-im-check--es-fehlen-milliarden-zur-umsetzung-38206640.html
Remigration: How the AfD is harming Saxony-Anhalt's economy: The AfD is campaigning in Saxony-Anhalt with plans for the remigration of refugees ...
faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/mehr-wirtschaft/remigration-wie-die-afd-sachsen-anhalts-wirtschaft-schadet-201182459.html
This is How Much Xenophobia Costs: Scientists at the IWH in Halle have attempted to quantify the economic impact of an AfD-led government in Saxony-Anhalt.
sueddeutsche.de/li.3540466
State election in Saxony-Anhalt: Poll shows massive rejection of AfD positions: Shortly before the state elections, a survey focuses on key statements from the ...
fr.de/politik/kernpunkte-ab-umfrage-zur-afd-in-sachsen-anhalt-viele-lehnen-zr-94461810.html
Key FactsForsa Survey Finds Broad Rejection of AfD Demands in Saxony-Anhalt
Aug 29, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: fr.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: fr.de
- For RTL and ntv, Forsa surveyed 1,007 people on 13 and 14 August 2026; the margin of error was ±3 percentage points.
- Approval of statements about foreign doctors and skilled workers stood at 17 and 16 percent; more than 80 percent rejected each.
- On education policy, 24 percent supported restricting teachers’ opinions, while 71 percent nationwide opposed that proposal.
- If the AfD entered government, 54 percent expected education demands implemented, compared with 45 percent for skilled workers and 43 percent for churches.
The recruitment of skilled workers from 'foreign cultures' leads to problems and endangers, for example, the welfare of those affected in the health and care sector.— AfD election program for Saxony-Anhalt; quoted in RTL/ntv survey reporting
IWH: An AfD government could reduce economic growth in Saxony-Anhalt: Reint Gropp from Halle is one of the most important economists. And he strongly warns ...
sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/afd-wahl-sachsen-anhalt-2026-wirtschaft-folgen-iwh-li.3529331
Paid articlePaywallKey FactsEconomists warn about AfD plans in eastern Germany
Aug 26, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: welt.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: welt.de
- According to Reint Gropp, economic growth in Saxony-Anhalt could fall annually by 0.5 to 1 percent under an AfD government.
- The IWH estimates the annual funding shortfall for promised social benefits and tax cuts at least €2.2 billion.
- The AfD wants to reverse the energy transition in both states; renewables provide 61.5 percent and more than 80 percent of electricity.
- If the AfD’s election program were implemented, DIW expects Saxony-Anhalt to lose €1,600 average income per person and around 10,000 jobs.
Under the AfD's proposed policies, people in Saxony-Anhalt would, on average, lose around 1,600 euros per year in income per person.— DIW President Marcel Fratzscher commented on the economic impact of the AfD's plans for Saxony-Anhalt.
With "catastrophic consequences" for Saxony-Anhalt: Experts consider AfD economic policy unrealistic and "unaffordable"
tagesspiegel.de/politik/mit-katastrophalen-folgen-fur-sachsen-anhaltexperten-halten-afd-wirtschaftskurs-fur-realitatsfern-und-nicht-finanzierbar-15982497.html
“Election gifts for a specific clientele”: Economists analyze AfD plan for Saxony-Anhalt
fr.de/politik/luftschloss-milliarden-luecke-ohne-gegenfinanzierung-oekonom-watscht-afd-wahlprogramm-ab-zr-94430595.html
"Severe negative consequences": Experts dissect AfD plans - | only 10 cents of every euro would be covered
hna.de/politik/starke-negativen-folgen-experten-zerlegen-afd-plaene-warnen-milliardenloch-sachsen-anhalt-wahlen-zr-94436757.html
Economists tear apart AfD's election program as a "castle in the air": The right-wing party is promising benefits ahead of the state elections in ...
derstandard.at/story/3000000334985/oekonomen-zerreissen-wahlprogramm-der-afd-als-luftschloss
State election: Study reveals billion-euro gap in AfD's program for Saxony-Anhalt
handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/landtagswahl-studie-zeigt-milliardenluecke-im-afd-programm-fuer-sachsen-anhalt/100245216.html
Key FactsIWH sees multibillion-euro gap in AfD plan for Saxony-Anhalt
Aug 6, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: fnp.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: fnp.de
- According to current polls, the AfD has 41 percent ahead of the September state election; if the SPD fails to clear the five-percent threshold, the AfD could gain a parliamentary majority.
- The AfD rejects tax increases and new borrowing, while planned savings would cover only about one-tenth of the financing requirement, according to IWH.
- AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund said the program was intended as a long-term perspective and could not be implemented fully at once.
- The IWH analysis warns that an aggressive policy toward immigrants could deter or drive away foreign skilled workers, although the economic effects would be difficult to quantify.
The election program is a pipe dream.— Reint Gropp, president of IWH, told FAZ.
Dealing with Families: Legal Expert Brosius-Gersdorf Considers the AfD’s Election Platform in Saxony-Anhalt to Be Unconstitutional
spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/frauke-brosius-gersdorf-haelt-afd-wahlprogramm-in-sachsen-anhalt-fuer-verfassungswidrig-a-9a1dcdaa-34af-43c7-a68c-e86d135f5141
DAZWISCHEN: What threatens academic freedom in Saxony-Anhalt: Academic freedom in Saxony-Anhalt is under threat. In this episode of the “DAZWISCHEN” podcast ...
spektrum.de/podcast/detektor-fm-was-die-wissenschaftsfreiheit-in-sachsen-anhalt-bedroht/2327957
BBC Apr 13
Germany's AfD party adopts 'radical' manifesto ahead of polls: The far-right party is riding high in the opinion polls in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy3wwgyd6do
Study: Union, AfD and FDP election manifestos provide relief for top earners: According to a study, the programs of the Left, BSW, Greens and SPD include tax ...
n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Studie-Wahlprogramme-von-Union-AfD-und-FDP-entlasten-Spitzenverdiener-article25498197.html
Taxes and social affairs: This is what the parties' election promises cost the state
rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/bundestagswahl/steuern-und-soziales-das-kosten-die-wahlversprechen-der-parteien-den-staat_aid-123260719
Next