Eastern German states grapple with far-right sentiment and cultural policy disputes

Ahead of upcoming regional state elections in eastern Germany, concerns over far-right sentiment in schools and political disputes over cultural funding have intensified. Educators in eastern states report a rise in extremist symbols among students, prompting Thuringia's education ministry to prepare "constitutional coaches" with the University of Jena to support democratic values in classrooms. Meanwhile, the federal commissioner for SED dictatorship victims, Evelyn Zupke, advocated for mandatory school visits to East German memorial sites.

Cultural policy has also become contentious ahead of the polls. In Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Germany party proposed defunding programs labeled "anti-German," raising concerns for Holocaust memorials, Bauhaus sites, and local theaters amid wider East-West identity debates.

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