Eastern German election campaigns spur debates on culture and education

As state elections approach in eastern Germany, education, identity, and cultural policy have emerged as prominent campaign issues. Teachers in eastern states report an increase in far-right behavior among students, including the use of forbidden symbols. In response to gaps in historical knowledge, Evelyn Zupke, the federal commissioner for victims of the communist dictatorship, proposed mandatory student visits to East German memorial sites.

Simultaneously, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt has proposed cutting state funding for cultural initiatives deemed opposed to German interests, a move that could affect Holocaust memorials, Bauhaus institutions, and local theaters. Meanwhile, debates over East German identity continue to feature heavily in regional campaigning. In neighboring Berlin, educational authorities face additional administrative pressure as nearly 400 public school teachers remain on long-term sick leave lasting over a year.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau