Brussels threatened with the possibility of freezing the funding from the European Union (EU) allocated to the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, following the significant electoral victory of the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The authoritarian measure generated strong criticism for using EU funds as a political pressure tool against a result that emerged democratically from the ballot box.
Saxony-Anhalt has been allocated 2.95 billion euros from the EU budget for the period 2021-2027. These resources finance infrastructure projects and public services, including the renovation of schools and sports centers, daycare centers, and the acquisition of medical equipment.
AfD
The eastern German federal state also receives more regional European funding per capita than any other state in Germany. The amount of money that could be frozen is around 500 million euros annually, an amount equivalent to approximately 20% of Saxony-Anhalt's investment spending.
The use of European resources to condition a democratically elected regional government represents a clear form of external interference in the political decisions of German citizens and an attack against the democratic principle of respecting electoral results.
Background of threats and pressures
Brussels has previously resorted to freezing funds in Hungary and Poland for political reasons, especially regarding issues related to migration policies. While Brussels promoted the total opening of borders, those two countries rejected the measure and decided to defend them against illegal immigration.
The recent victory of AfD
The possible suspension of funds in the German state would have a direct impact on regional and economic programs, as well as affecting infrastructures and public services financed with European money, such as schools, gyms, daycare centers, and hospitals.
The response from AfD
AfD openly rejected the proposal. Bernd Baumann, parliamentary director of the party group in the Bundestag, stated: "We laugh at our party opponents, who are now also trying to harm us in an undemocratic way at the EU level. Because they have long been defenseless against us in political competition".
For his part, the current chancellor Friedrich Merz also threatened the right-wing party and assured that the federal government could intervene if Germans freely support AfD at the polls.
