NEW YORK (VINnews) — A prominent candidate from Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is drawing growing attention ahead of a state election in Saxony-Anhalt, amid concerns that the party could achieve a historic breakthrough and gain control of one of Germany’s federal states.

In an unusual cover story this week, the German news magazine Der Spiegel branded the candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, “the most dangerous man in Germany,” citing his hard-line positions on immigration and minorities and warning about the growing strength of the far right.

Siegmund rejected the criticism and instead described the cover as “excellent publicity.” He has even incorporated the Der Spiegel coverage into his election campaign, portraying the attention as evidence that his political movement is challenging Germany’s established political order.

The AfD has expanded its support in recent years, particularly in eastern Germany, building its political appeal around opposition to immigration, criticism of European Union policies and attacks on Germany’s political establishment in Berlin.

The party’s Saxony-Anhalt branch has been classified by German security authorities as a right-wing extremist organization and is subject to surveillance.

Siegmund is the AfD’s leading candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, where the party has emerged as a major political force. If he were to become state premier, it would represent a major political milestone for the AfD and a historic breakthrough for a party that was founded in 2013.

It would also mark the first time that the AfD had succeeded in leading the government of one of Germany’s 16 federal states, making the election particularly significant for the country’s postwar political landscape.

German political parties are already preparing for the possibility of an AfD victory. Traditional parties are exploring alternative governing coalitions designed to prevent the far-right party from taking control, while refusing to cooperate with the AfD remains a central principle for many mainstream political forces.

The prospect of an AfD-led government is particularly sensitive in Germany because of the country’s history and the political safeguards established after World War II to prevent the resurgence of extremist movements.

As the election approaches, however, Siegmund and the AfD continue to gain momentum in the polls, intensifying pressure on Germany’s established parties and turning Saxony-Anhalt into a closely watched test of the country’s political direction.

A strong AfD performance would have implications far beyond the state itself, potentially strengthening the party’s argument that it is moving from the political margins toward becoming a governing force in Germany.