Germany's far-right AfD struggles to form first state government after landmark win
The party won 44% of the vote but still needs partners or defections to secure power, while mainstream rivals keep a firewall in place.
- On Tuesday, Tobias Rausch of the AfD was elected parliamentary speaker in Saxony-Anhalt, marking the first time a far-right party member held the position since World War II; the party secured 44% of the vote.
- Support from the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance helped Rausch secure the speakership with four additional secret ballot votes, though the branch is classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a 'confirmed right-wing extremist' organization.
- Leading members of the Social Democratic Party marched from the Bundestag through the Brandenburg Gate to Bebelplatz in Berlin on Tuesday to protest. Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil condemned the election, stating it "represents a taboo break."
- AfD caucus leader Oliver Kirchner expressed frustration with BSW co-leaders Fabio De Masi and Mohamed Ali, asking if he must spend "five years in politics" with them despite their immigrant backgrounds.
- BSW co-leader Fabio De Masi argued they must "pull the AfD out from behind the firewall," while CDU parliamentary group leader Thorsten Frei warned the election is "extremely troubling and cause for concern.
26 Articles
26 Articles
The election of an AfD politician as President of the Landtag is burdening the coalition of the Union and SPD. Four additional votes could become a problem for the CDU and Friedrich Merz.
The Local - De
The Local'Nothing is certain': Has Germany's firewall against the far-right finally cracked?
The AfD's Tobias Rausch was already to be elected parliamentary president in Saxony-Anhalt, but four unexpected votes backing the far-right leader have plunged assumptions about the Germany's political future into doubt.
Germany's far-right AfD struggles to form first state government after landmark win
The far-right Alternative for Germany convened for the first sitting of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament on Tuesday but, a month after its landmark election win, the party still lacks a clear path to forming what would be its first state government.
With Tobias Rausch (President) and Hans-Thomas Tillschneider (Vize), two AfD men were elected to the Presidium of the Landtag in Saxony-Anhalt. The CDU man Borchert was also elected vice-president.
AfD politician Tobias Rausch received four votes from the CDU faction in his secret election as President of the Landtag. SPD and left are calling for clarification. This is met with resistance in the Union.
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