The new Saxony-Anhalt state parliament met today in Magdeburg for its constituent session. The strongest faction, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), has nominated its current parliamentary secretary, Tobias Rausch, for the post of Speaker of the parliament. If he is elected, he will be the first Speaker of a state parliament in Germany from the ranks of the AfD. Deutschlandfunk ↗
Within the party, Rausch is regarded as a pragmatic negotiator who works mainly behind the scenes. He links his candidacy to an effort to present himself as a moderate figure, and he has said that he does not want to be "a hardliner." However, his election does not have the support of all parliamentary factions. n-tv ↗
The Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) may play a key role, as it has announced its support for the AfD candidate. Wagenknecht justifies this stance by saying that, according to parliamentary custom, the Speaker should be nominated by the strongest faction. She rejected criticism of the cooperation with the AfD and declared that her movement is thereby ending the "idiocy surrounding the firewall." Welt ↗
The AfD has also nominated Hans-Thomas Tillschneider as Deputy Speaker. He belongs to the leading figures of the party's radical wing and has repeatedly provoked controversy in the past. Tagesspiegel ↗
Representatives of other German parliaments are also following the session. Vice President of the Bundestag Bodo Ramelow pointed out that, in negotiations, it is essential to know precisely the powers of the state parliament Speaker and the tactics of the AfD. The election of the Speaker and deputy speakers is expected to be the first major test of the balance of power in the new parliament. Die Zeit ↗
AfD wants to take the post of Speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament for the first time
This summary was generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies. Please verify information in the original sources below.
Sources (10)
Bodo Ramelow: »Man muss wissen, welche Macht der Landtagspräsident tatsächlich hat«
Die Zeit
| 05:30 06.10.
Der erste Machtbeweis der AfD in Magdeburg
Politico Europe
| 05:30 06.10.
Sachsen-Anhalt: AfD will Landtagspräsidenten in Sachsen-Anhalt stellen
Tagesspiegel
| 04:02 06.10.
Erster AfD-Landtagspräsident?: Tobias Rausch will "kein Hardliner" sein
n-tv
| 20:08 05.10.
Sachsen-Anhalt: Wagenknecht-Bündnis will AfD‑Landtagspräsident ins Amt helfen
Der Standard
| 18:00 05.10.
Konstituierende Sitzung in Sachsen-Anhalt: Die AfD und die ganz große Bühne
Tagesschau
| 04:18 06.10.
Nach dem AfD-Wahlsieg - Landtag von Sachsen-Anhalt tritt zur ersten Sitzung zusammen und will Parlamentspräsidenten wählen
Deutschlandfunk
| 23:46 05.10.
Wie Siegmund auf den nächsten Triumph zusteuert
Welt
| 17:00 05.10.
Führender Kopf des rechtsextremen Flügels: AfD schlägt Tillschneider als Vizepräsidenten im Landtag vor
Tagesspiegel
| 16:13 05.10.
Sachsen-Anhalt: AfD und BSW wollen ersten AfD-Landtagspräsidenten wählen
Die Zeit
| 15:31 05.10.
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