Special Olympics Germany has urged voters not to support the far-right AfD in upcoming state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, warning that the party’s agenda threatens inclusion and funding for people with intellectual disabilities. The AfD’s recent win in Saxony-Anhalt and its manifesto opposing inclusive education have intensified SOD’s concerns. SOD leaders say threatened funding and policy rollbacks could jeopardize programs that enable participation and equal opportunity.
Special Olympics Germany Urges Voters: Don’t Back AfD, Warns Inclusion and Funding at Risk
FILE PHOTO - Athletes Dirk and Kerstin light the flame of hope during the Special Olympics national games opening ceremony at Sportforum Berlin. (is associated with: «Special Olympics Germany warns against AfD vote») Andreas Gora/dpa
Special Olympics Germany (SOD), the national sports association representing people with intellectual disabilities, has publicly urged voters not to support the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in upcoming state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The warning follows the AfD’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt earlier this month and polling that suggests the party could gain further ground.
Background
The AfD’s recent success in Saxony-Anhalt has raised concerns among disability advocates and inclusive education proponents. Opinion polls ahead of the Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern elections suggest the party may substantially increase its share of the vote, a development SOD leaders say could imperil inclusive services and funding.
What SOD Says
Andreas Silbersack, SOD Vice-President: "The AfD wants to abolish inclusion. That hits us right to the core."
Silbersack warned that the party’s policies could lead to the withdrawal of financial support in affected federal states and threaten the organisation’s ability to operate. "Our right to exist is being called into question and there is a threat that financial resources will be withdrawn in a federal state," he said, adding that SOD anticipates "rough and difficult times in Saxony-Anhalt."
Policy Concerns
The AfD’s election manifesto in Saxony-Anhalt explicitly criticized inclusive education, stating: "The 'inclusion' experiment, that is joint-teaching of disabled children with normally gifted children and the abolition of traditional special schools, has failed across the board." SOD and other advocates interpret this stance as a push to roll back policies designed to integrate people with intellectual disabilities into mainstream education and society.
Why It Matters
Supporters of inclusion say integrated schools and community programs are critical for access, dignity and equal opportunity. SOD warns that reversals in inclusion policy or cuts to public funding would not only affect sports and recreational programs but could also reduce broader social and educational support for people with intellectual disabilities.
What To Watch: Election outcomes in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, potential shifts in state-level funding, and any policy moves that could alter the structure of inclusive education and support services.
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