Sachsen-Anhalt has enshrined support for art and culture as a state objective in a new law, passed by the state parliament in Magdeburg with the exception of the AfD faction, which abstained. Culture Minister Rainer Robra (CDU) framed the law as fulfilling a promise from 1989, defining what constitutes art and culture in the state, including their roles in education and as an economic factor, and aiming to make cultural structures resilient against future attacks on artistic freedom.
The law matters because it legally protects cultural funding and freedom in a politically charged environment, with Robra explicitly stating it comes at the right time to defend against new attacks on values. The AfD, which may take power after September elections, has signaled it will keep the law but amend it, criticizing its inclusion of climate protection and sustainability ahead of tradition and homeland care. This makes the legislation a key battleground in the ongoing debate over cultural policy and political values in Germany.