AfD party leads in Saxony-Anhalt state election

We do not know whether the man was a party supporter, a member or merely an attendee. He would not talk to us.

Saxony-Anhalt is one of several states where the party is officially classed as right-wing extremist.

Domestic intelligence charges the local branch with being infused by a "racist ideology" and anti-constitutional aims.

The AfD, which says it is a conservative, libertarian movement, dismisses these designations as politicised smears and rejects any comparisons with National Socialism.

Ulrich Siegmund has not ruled out getting rid of domestic intelligence (BfV) in the state if the AfD wins a majority.

Other parties won't go into coalition with the AfD, as part of what is known as the Brandmauer or firewall that keeps the far right from government.

That is why it must seek a parliamentary majority in order to be sure of securing power.

In Saxony-Anhalt, it is no longer about creating cracks in the firewall but rather trying to bypass it altogether.

Pulling that off will likely depend on whether other, smaller parties get enough votes in order to pass a 5% threshold that allows them to enter parliament.

Politics is maths and Germany is no different, even if the maths can be quite convoluted.

But if the AfD does score a decisive victory, then a party that uses anti-establishment rhetoric to grow its support will face a test it has never faced before.

Grievances could still be laid at the door of the federal government in Berlin, but the AfD would no longer solely be able to rail against those in office because it would be in office itself.

Saxony-Anhalt may be a relatively small state, by population, but it is about to host one hell of an election.