Abolish the fundamental right to asylum
The right to asylum is a fundamental right in Germany (Article 16a of the Basic Law). In its election platform, the AfD calls for the abolition of this fundamental right in its current form. Instead, asylum is to be transformed into a“right of clemency granted by the state.”This would give the state greater discretion in deciding who is granted asylum.
An AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt cannot implement this demand on its own. To do so, Article 16a of the Basic Law would have to be amended. And such an amendment requires a majority in the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.
However, Saxony-Anhalt can launch a corresponding initiative in the Bundesrat. That is exactly what the AfD announces in its election platform.
Review the protected status of refugees every year
On this point, the AfD remains very vague in its election platform. The party states that it intends to work toward a situation where an improvement in conditions in the country of origin leads to the loss of protection status in Germany. To this end, the protection status of all refugees in Saxony-Anhalt is to be reviewed once a year.
However, it is already possible today to review or revoke protection. Current EU law states: If the situation in the country of origin has improved permanently, such that there are no longer grounds for protection, the protection status may be revoked.
This means that the AfD’s demand is already partially implemented under EU law. The only new element is the demand to review the protection status of all refugees in Saxony-Anhalt once a year.
Important: As a rule, the BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees) reviews and decides on protection status. The state government of Saxony-Anhalt therefore cannot review or revoke protection status on its own.
Revoke Protected Status After Traveling to the Country of Origin
According to the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, anyone who travels to their country of origin despite having refugee status should immediately lose that status. The party cites trips to Syria, Afghanistan, or Ukraine as examples.
However, there is already a law in place for this as well. According to Section 73b of the Asylum Act (AsylG), if a person travels to their country of origin, it is generally presumed that the grounds for protection no longer exist. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) can then review the protection status and, if necessary, revoke it. However, there are exceptions, and each case must be reviewed individually.
Abolish Subsidiary Protection
The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt wants to abolish subsidiary protection. This protection is granted to people who face serious danger in their country of origin, for example due to war or civil war. To implement this demand, the AfD plans to introduce a motion in the Bundesrat.
However, subsidiary protection cannot be abolished solely by amending German law. As of June 2026, it will be governed by an EU regulation. The regulation establishes, EU-wide, the conditions under which subsidiary protection is granted.
Germany or an individual federal state cannot, therefore, change or abolish subsidiary protection on its own. Changes at the EU level would be necessary for that.
Repeal the Naturalization Act of 2024
The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt intends to push in the Bundesrat to reverse the 2024 naturalization reform. In addition, the so-called “place of birth principle” is to be abolished.
To clarify: Currently, children of foreign parents can obtain German citizenship at birth in Germany. However, this is only possible if at least one parent has been living legally in Germany for five years and holds a permanent right of residence. This provision was introduced with the 2024 reform of the citizenship law.
In addition, the party intends to advocate for the repeal of the 2024 Naturalization Act. Among other things, the law reduced the length of residence required for the “ Naturalization ” from eight to five years. Furthermore, dual citizenship has been permitted since then.
Saxony-Anhalt cannot repeal these laws on its own. Citizenship law is a federal matter. Any change would have to be enacted at the federal level.
An Essay Instead of a Naturalization Test
The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt also wants to change the naturalization test (Life in Germany Test). Instead of the current 33 multiple-choice questions, applicants would be required to write an essay on a political topic. This would also serve to test their German language skills.
The rules for the naturalization test are set at the federal level. Saxony-Anhalt therefore cannot simply replace the existing test with an essay. However, an AfD state government could advocate for a change through the Bundesrat.
More Deportations
Another demand in the AfD Saxony-Anhalt platform is a major deportation campaign. The AfD wants to return people required to leave the country—that is, those without the right to reside here —to their countries of origin more quickly. Criminals and individuals posing a threat who are required to leave the country are to be deported as a priority.
State governments do, in fact, have a great deal of influence over deportations. This is because the federal states and their immigration authorities are responsible for carrying out deportations.
Saxony-Anhalt could, for example, allocate more staff and funding for deportations, consolidate procedures more effectively, and process certain cases (e.g., criminals and individuals posing a threat) more quickly.
Eliminate the basic income for Ukrainians
The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt is calling for refugees from Ukraine who have come to Germany since the start of the war to no longer receive a basic income in the future. Instead, they should receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. These benefits are generally lower. According to the AfD, this is also intended to create an incentive for them to return.
The federal government is also currently planning a similar change. The federal government's draft bill stipulates that Ukrainians who enter Germany after April 1, 2025, will receive asylum seeker benefits instead of the basic income.
However, the federal government’s bill has not yet been passed. One reason for this is resistance from the federal states. The Bundesrat has expressed reservations about the bill and has therefore not yet approved it.
Saxony-Anhalt cannot change the benefits for Ukrainians on its own. Federal law would have to be amended for that to happen. However, if the AfD were to take over the state government in Saxony-Anhalt, it could support the federal government’s proposed bill in the Bundesrat.
End Protection for Ukrainians
The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt is going even further by calling for Ukrainians to no longer be recognized as war refugees in the future.
To clarify: Most refugees from Ukraine do not go through the regular asylum process in Germany. They are granted temporary protection under Section 24 of the Residence Act (AufenthG). This is based on an EU directive.
A few weeks ago, the EU extended temporary protection through March 4, 2028. Saxony-Anhalt cannot terminate the program on its own. Nor can Germany simply lift the EU protection. To do so, the regulation would have to be amended at the European level.
