The Unlikely Challenger of Saxony Anhalt's Far Right The upcoming state election in Saxony Anhalt is a critical test for Germany's center right parties, particularly the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which has struggled to maintain its foothold in eastern regions.
State Premier Sven Schulze, 47 and an industrial engineer by trade, is leading the charge against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) from taking control of a state government for the first time since World War II.
Schulze's leadership style has been marked by his willingness to distance himself from Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the federal government's policies.