AfD leads Saxony-Anhalt polls as forest crisis becomes campaign issue

In Saxony-Anhalt, drought and bark beetles have destroyed up to 90% of spruce trees in the Harz since 2018, making reforestation a contentious political issue ahead of regional elections on September 6. The far-right AfD, leading in polls, has turned the forest's future into a battleground, potentially influencing voter turnout and policy direction. The outcome could signal broader political shifts in eastern Germany.