The AfD is poised to become the first far-right force to head a German state government since World War II in Saxony-Anhalt, with lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund. ^[1] All public theaters in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern issued a joint invitation for citizens to sing together in public spaces ahead of the state election. ^[2] German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruled out cooperation with both the Left Party and the AfD. ^[3] Polls show the AfD expected to win more than 40 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, with the CDU at just above 20 percent, the Left Party at 12 percent, the Social Democrats at 7 percent, and the Greens at 5 percent. ^[4] The AfD's election platform, titled 'The Country First', calls for abolition of the right to asylum, confiscation of cash and assets of asylum seekers, mass deportations, prison sentences for insulting German identity, banning the Antifa movement, cancelling public broadcasting, and reversing the shift towards renewable energy. ^[5] The initiative involves all public theaters in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and is scheduled to take place on September 5, 7, 12, and 13 at open door days, markets, or season opening festivals. ^[6] The organizers stated that democracy lives from everyone raising their voice and that something greater than a single voice is created when they do so together. ^[7] The theaters aim to highlight the importance of artistic freedom, stating that art needs freedom to make contradictions visible and ask questions. ^[8]