Full Breakdown
AfD Secures Presidency of Saxony-Anhalt State Parliament
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 6, the newly convened Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt elected Tobias Rausch of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as president of the state parliament. In an anonymous ballot, 48 of the 83 lawmakers voted for Rausch, giving him a slim majority and indicating support from some members of parties that have publicly refused to cooperate with the AfD. The presidency, which oversees parliamentary administration and swears in the future minister-president, marks the first time a far-right politician has held the post in a German state since the Nazi era.
Background & Context
The AfD, classified as a “suspected extremist” by Germany’s domestic intelligence service and labeled a confirmed right-wing extremist branch in Saxony-Anhalt since 2023, surged in the September 6 state election, winning 43.8 % of the vote—the party’s best result ever—and securing 39 of the 83 seats. The party’s platform emphasized anti-immigration, anti-establishment, and pro-fossil-fuel positions, while pledging to focus on education and cultural policy at the state level.
Data & Statistics
- Vote share: 43.8 % (AfD) in the September 6 election.
- Seats won: 39 of 83 (AfD).
- Presidential vote: 48 of 83 lawmakers supported Rausch.
- Supporting bloc: Five members of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) announced backing Rausch, raising the expected tally to 44 votes.
- CDU seats: 15; CDU leader Sven Schulze signaled the party would not block the nomination but cautioned that secret ballots can diverge from public statements.
Official Statements & Responses
The BSW argued that parliamentary custom grants the presidency to the largest group and affirmed its members would vote for Rausch on procedural grounds, yet it ruled out any coalition with the AfD. Civil-society alliances organized protests outside the Magdeburg parliament building, condemning the AfD’s rise to a senior parliamentary role.
What’s Next
The Landtag will convene in December to elect the minister-president, the state’s most powerful executive position. AfD leader Ulrich Siegmund has declared his intention to run, but he lacks a secured majority; the BSW has said it will abstain, leaving the outcome uncertain.