German AfD pledges migrant expulsions in Saxony-Anhalt

Germany's far-right AfD party unveiled a Saxony-Anhalt campaign manifesto on Saturday, pledging to expel undocumented immigrants immediately if it wins control of the eastern state government.

AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund told delegates in Magdeburg that his first measures after the September 6 vote would include removing irregular migrants from the state “from the very first minute”. He said the party would use measures including detention pending deportation to send back as many people as possible.

Siegmund also said asylum seekers would be required to carry out community service or risk benefit cuts.

The Alternative for Germany has a lead of nearly 20 points over the mainstream conservatives in state opinion polls. AFP reported that an AfD victory would make it the first far-right party to govern a German federal region since World War II.

Siegmund also pledged to defend a traditional family model, ban the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag in schools, fly the national flag in public establishments and later change history curriculums that he said focused too much on Germany's Nazi-era guilt.

He also proposed a 1,500-euro subsidy to help apprentices pay for driving licences, saying it was aimed at stopping young people from leaving rural areas.