01. 05. 2026 AfD family festival in Schönebeck on 1 May labeled as ESN party event

AfD in Saxony-Anhalt held a family festival in Schönebeck on 1 May labeled as an ESN party event. In fact the event was promoting the leading candidate of the AfD in the upcoming state elections, Ulrich Siegmund.

A media report by taz wrote:
"Behind Siegmund, the letters “ESN” are displayed in large letters. Outwardly, the ESN party presents itself as the host and financial sponsor of the festival. (...)

"It feels like an unofficial AfD kick-off for the state election campaign. Under the rules of the European Parliament, political groups are not permitted to use their funds to finance election campaign costs or for national parties. Exactly how the family festival in Schönebeck is being financed remains unclear on the ground. What is clear, however, is that the ESN party is closely linked to the AfD – and that the boundaries between European party work and national election campaigning are visibly blurring here." (translation by the author)