Migrant organisations across Germany have asked federal and state leaders to prepare protective measures in case the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) enters government in Saxony-Anhalt. The Local Germany reports that the appeal was made in an open letter that followed the party’s gains in recent state election results.
What happened
According to The Local Germany, several migrant associations sent an open letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz and to the Ministerpräsidenten, the minister-presidents who lead each of Germany’s 16 states. The signatories include the Türkische Gemeinde in Deutschland (Turkish Community in Germany) and other migrant umbrella organisations.
The groups warn that vulnerable people could face greater risks under an AfD-led administration in Saxony-Anhalt. They say that people seen as Muslims, Jews, Sinti and Roma, LGBTQ+ people and those with a migrant background are already facing growing hostility. They report a rise in hate mail, threats and racist incidents since the AfD’s recent electoral gains.
The letter makes three main demands:
- A federal-state commission that would assess possible threats to minorities and develop safeguards in case the AfD takes executive power.
- Easier residency restrictions for asylum seekers, so that people who fear racist violence could move to another area.
- Clear constitutional safeguards, which governments would set out before any new administration takes office.
What it means for you
For now, nothing has changed in law. The letter is an appeal, and The Local Germany does not report any response from the federal government or the states. Residents of Saxony-Anhalt, including foreign nationals, keep the same rights and status they had before the election.
The proposals would matter most for people in the groups the letter names, especially asylum seekers living in Saxony-Anhalt. Asylum seekers in Germany are often required to live in a particular place. The organisations want this rule relaxed so that people who feel unsafe can relocate. If you are an asylum seeker affected by such a restriction, watch for any official decision on this point. Until there is one, do not assume the rules have changed.
If you live in Saxony-Anhalt and have received threats or experienced a racist incident, the reports of rising hostility in the letter suggest these are not isolated cases. Report threats to the police and keep copies of any hate mail you receive.
Other news for residents today
The Local Germany’s Tuesday roundup also included several other stories relevant to foreigners in Germany.
Skilled worker shortage. A new study by the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW, the German Economic Institute) warns that a lack of skilled workers could slow the government’s infrastructure plans, for which €500 billion has been earmarked. The study estimates an average shortage of more than 148,000 skilled workers between July 2025 and June 2026 in jobs linked to infrastructure, digitalisation and the energy transition. The biggest gaps are in technical trades and engineering roles, including electrical systems, heating and ventilation, mechanical engineering and industrial operations. Workers with vocational qualifications are particularly scarce. If you work in these fields or are thinking of moving to Germany to do so, demand for your skills is high.
Travel advice for France. The Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) updated its travel and security advice for France late on Sunday. It warned that further demonstrations and further outbreaks of violence in the coming days cannot be ruled out. More than 2,500 people were arrested after cost-of-living protests on Saturday, in which around half a million people took part across France. If you plan to travel to France, check the latest advice before you go.
Quieter supermarkets. Some German supermarkets are taking part in Invisible Disabilities Day on Tuesday, 20 October. Participating stores are holding a “Quiet Hour” during which background music is switched off, advertising announcements stop and cash register sounds are reduced. Some stores will also dim their lighting. The timing varies from shop to shop, and nearly 200 supermarkets in Germany have registered. IKEA introduced a weekly nationwide Quiet Hour in its German stores earlier this year. If you or a family member find busy shops overwhelming, ask your local supermarket whether it is taking part and when its Quiet Hour takes place.
Leipzig/Halle Airport. Two men, aged 20 and 32, have turned themselves in after a car broke through a security fence at the airport on Saturday evening. According to reports cited by The Local Germany, they had been practising for a driving test. The 20-year-old, who was reportedly driving, did not have a valid driving licence. The incident was first suspected to be sabotage. Investigations are continuing.
What to watch next
The key question is whether federal or state leaders respond to the migrant organisations’ letter, and in particular whether they set up the proposed federal-state commission or change residency rules for asylum seekers. Also watch for news on whether the AfD forms a government in Saxony-Anhalt, since the safeguards the groups are asking for are meant to be in place before any new administration takes office.
Source: The Local Germany
Sources
- The Local Germany: Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday, accessed 20 October 2026
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