Jana Hensel on East Germany's Alienation After AfD's Near Win in Saxony-Anhalt

Following the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD narrowly missed an absolute majority, author and journalist Jana Hensel sees her book 'Es war einmal ein Land' (Once Upon a Time in a Land) validated. In an interview with der Freitag, conducted on a cloudy Monday afternoon in Berlin-Mitte, Hensel discussed the growing estrangement of East Germany from the rest of the country. She observed that many East Germans are withdrawing their consent to the current German state, a theme central to her book published earlier this year. Hensel described her initial reaction to the election results as quiet, noting that colleagues in Magdeburg reported a similar atmosphere. She emphasized the need to process the outcome. The interview also touched on the possibility of a new party emerging after the AfD, reflecting a broader political realignment in the region. Hensel's commentary highlights the deep-seated discontent and the search for political alternatives in East Germany.