German States Are Facing a Hostile Climate, With Many Reporting Insults, Threats, and Even Physical Attacks in Germany

The Forsa poll, commissioned by the Körber Foundation, also found that many local administrators expect significant changes if the far-right AfD party leads the next state government. According to the survey, six out of ten mayors in Saxony-Anhalt say they have been insulted, threatened, or physically attacked at least once. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, four out of ten officeholders report similar experiences.

Around half of the mayors and council members in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and six out of ten in Saxony-Anhalt, say the general mood in their town or municipality has changed in recent months. The most frequently cited reasons for the shift include growing dissatisfaction with federal and state politics, a loss of trust in those government levels, and a general rise in frustration and resignation. Respondents in Saxony-Anhalt also mentioned increasing polarization.

The online survey, conducted from July 3 to August 17, included 232 mayors, 434 council members, and 123 senior municipal administration staff from both states. Saxony-Anhalt holds its state election on September 6, followed by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on September 20. If the AfD were to lead the next state government, 44 percent of senior administrative staff in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and 52 percent in Saxony-Anhalt expect major impacts on the structures and operations of local government. Sven Tetzlaff, head of the foundation's Democracy and Cohesion department, said: Shortly before the state elections, it is clear that federal and state political conflicts are reaching down into the municipalities.

Many mayors, council members, and administrative leaders are experiencing a rougher climate, disinformation, and growing political pressure. Seventy-four percent of mayors in Saxony-Anhalt report having encountered disinformation at least once, usually multiple times. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, that figure is lower at 56 percent. The survey comes as Saxony-Anhalt's CDU leader Sven Schulze and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Minister-President Manuela Schwesig both campaign to prevent the AfD, which leads in polls, from taking power., sagte der Leiter des Bereichs Demokratie und Zusammenhalt der Stiftung, Sven Tetzlaff, zu den Ergebnissen.