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5 min readGerman far right stands on the brink of state power
On a blisteringly hot day in the East German town of Zerbst, Tom Nuttall, The Economist's chief Germany correspondent, watched something he had never seen before at a German political rally. The candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, a 35-year-old blonde man with a persistent grin, was signing copies of Der Spiegel for fans. The magazine had put his face on the cover and called him "the most dangerous man in Germany." Siegmund was delighted. He had bought up copies that morning and was handing them out like a celebrity.
Siegmund is the lead candidate for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, which held a crucial election on September 6th. For the first time, the far-right party had a genuine chance of attaining meaningful power in Germany. The AfD has been locked out of government at both state and federal levels by what Germans call a Brandmauer — a firewall meaning no other mainstream party will work with it or form coalitions with it. But in Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD had a chance of winning a majority of seats on its own.
What the AfD stands for and what it would do
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:49) **The Rise of the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt** - Chief Germany correspondent Tom Nuttall reports from a rally for the AfD's lead candidate, Ulrich Ziegmund, who could become Germany's first state-level AfD leader.
- 2 (06:36) **Can the AfD Actually Govern?** - Analysis of the practical and political obstacles the AfD would face if it wins the election.
- 3 (08:36) **Local Voter Reactions and the "Testing Ground" Fear** - The mixed feelings among Saxony-Anhalt residents about the prospect of an AfD victory.
- 4 (11:37) **Palantir in Britain: Controversy and Utility** - Britain correspondent George Bunn examines why the American tech firm Palantir is both deeply embedded in UK public services and deeply controversial.
- 5 (14:37) **The Sources of Controversy Around Palantir** - The specific reasons Palantir attracts criticism, beyond the politics of its founders.
- 6 (16:54) **The Dilemma: Dependence vs. Capability** - The tension between wanting to cut ties with Palantir and the lack of viable British alternatives.
- 7 (20:02) **China's New Chocolate Revolution** - China business editor Don Weinland reports on a new generation of Chinese chocolatiers trying to create a domestic market for high-quality chocolate.
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Show Notes
On Sunday, Alternative for Germany could become the first far-right nationalist party to win a state election since the end of the second world war. Is Britain right to worry about Palantir handling government contracts? And could the Chinese learn to love chocolate?
Guests and host:
- Tom Nuttall, chief Germany correspondent
- Georgia Banjo, Britain correspondent
- Don Weinland, China business and finance editor
- Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
- Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Topics covered:
- Germany, AfD, Alternative for Germany, Saxony-Anhalt
- Palantir, NHS
- China, chocolate
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