Party conference: AfD before election campaign MV: “We want a single government”

About ten months before the state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the state AfD had agreed to its goal of taking over the government in the northeast. “We want a single government in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. That is our big goal,” state leader Leif-Erik Holm said at Demmin’s state party conference. Previously, almost all 250 delegates present had chosen the 55-year-old Bundestag member as a candidate for Prime Minister. There were only a few who abstained.

Fellow state leader Enrico Schult initially prepared those present for a duel with the incumbent SPD Prime Minister, Manuela Schwesig. The CDU is currently not a major political opponent. “The main political opponent remains the SPD.” It was time to replace the Social Democratic Party, which had ruled Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for 27 years. “As the AfD, we want to fight for an absolute majority.”

Holm is counting on a tailwind from Saxony-Anhalt

A survey conducted in late September showed the AfD in MV at 38 percent – ​​more than double the 2021 state election. At 19 percent, the SPD is only half as popular among voters as in the last election. According to a survey conducted by Infratest dimap on behalf of the NDR, the Unity Party remains at 13 percent, which is the lowest election result in history since the fall of 2021.

Holm also expects a tailwind for MV from state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, which took place two weeks earlier. In Saxony-Anhalt, a recent survey put the AfD at 40 percent. As one of his first official acts as Prime Minister, the economist and former radio presenter announced the termination of the State Broadcasting Agreement. He combined this announcement with criticism of public broadcasting.

Holm also criticized the financial policies of the red-red government coalition in Schwerin. “We have to tighten our belts to make things better for everyone.” For example, staffing in the state administration sector needs to be saved.

One million euros for the election campaign

Schult called for the AfD in MV to implement a “restrictive asylum policy that consistently drives people back”, criticizing what he saw as “stupid wind power madness” and calling for a stronger focus on “technical knowledge rather than political education” in education.

Regional associations also feel strengthened by the influx of new members. Within a year, the number increased by 1,000 to the current 2,600. It also makes more money. The party wants to invest almost one million euros in next year’s election campaign.

Holm and Schult were confirmed as state leaders by Demmin’s majority. Holm received 196 yes votes and 48 no votes, Schult received 179 yes votes and 55 no votes. In addition, delegates elected state MP Thore Stein and the head of the Vorpommern-Rügen district association, Michael Kasch, as first and second deputy state speakers respectively, thus expanding the state assembly.

Holm is counting on a direct mandate in the Schwesig constituency

In the past, there have been differences of opinion regarding the nomination of leaders in state elections. Initially, the state executive committee selected Schult, a state lawmaker, as the top candidate. Recently, those in charge agreed that Holm would be the candidate for prime minister, but that Schult would apply for number 1 on the state list. The list of states will be drawn up at another meeting in late January.

According to his own statements, Holm wants to give up his place on the state list and rely entirely on winning an outright mandate in the Schwerin constituency of Schwesig. It’s not an easy constituency, but if the AfD beats Schwesig in its own constituency, the party will also lead the state government in Schwerin, he said.