German conservatives launch manifesto for state vote with AfD in front

Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has published its manifesto ahead of a crucial state election in the east of the country in September as it faces a strong challenge from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The CDU in the state of Saxony-Anhalt is focusing on greater internal security, with the state police force to be increased to more than 8,000 officers. There are also to be strict rules on migration policy, and changes in the areas of the economy and education.

Delegates voted unanimously in favour of the agenda at a party conference on Saturday.

The CDU candidate to remain state premier, Sven Schulze, is facing a strong challenge from the anti-immigrant AfD in the state, and is trailing in the polls.

Nevertheless, Schulze has repeatedly and clearly positioned himself against the AfD and The Left party from the opposite end of the political spectrum and ruled out a coalition government with either of the parties. 

"There will be no minister from The Left party and no minister from the AfD in my government," he said.

Unease over photo of AfD and CDU politicians sharing a mic

Schulze has been embarrassed by a photo of one of the leading members of his party apparently sharing a microphone with an opponent from the AfD.

The picture was taken during a panel discussion in the town of Halberstadt and shows CDU parliamentary group leader Guido Heuer leaning on the shoulder of the AfD's lead candidate, Ulrich Siegmund. Both men are smiling, and have their hands on the same microphone. 

Speaking on the sidelines of Saturday's state party conference, Heuer dismissed the impression of familiarity that had arisen. "That was more of a confrontation, not fraternization," he told dpa.

He said that there had only been two microphones for several panellists. In that situation, he had reached for the microphone because Siegmund had spoken "untruths."

There is repeated speculation whether the two parties might cooperate after the election. Schulze from the CDU has ruled this out on several occasions. 

For his part, Siegmund is seeking an AfD-led single-party government, and repeatedly takes a hard line against the CDU. 

The state election in Saxony-Anhalt is scheduled for September 6.