The new Saxony-Anhalt parliament meets on Tuesday with AfD nominee Tobias Rausch in line to become the first Alternative for Germany state speaker if he wins a majority.
Saxony-Anhalt’s newly elected state parliament was due to hold its first session on Tuesday, with the Alternative for Germany seeking the speaker’s post. dpa reported that the party nominated Tobias Rausch, a member of its parliamentary group since 2016. If elected, he would be the first AfD speaker of a German state parliament.
The AfD won nearly 44 percent of the vote in last month’s state election but fell short of an absolute majority. dpa said it holds 39 seats. Die Zeit reported 39 of 83 seats and said Rausch needs an absolute majority of votes cast.
Mainstream parties continue to refuse cooperation under the so-called firewall. The populist BSW has said it will support Rausch, and Die Zeit reported that AfD and BSW votes together would be enough. Saxony-Anhalt’s domestic intelligence agency has classified the state AfD as a confirmed far-right extremist organisation, dpa said.
Rausch, 35, is a trained property manager and has been the AfD group’s parliamentary business manager. The session will also show whether any Christian Democrats vote for him.
The vote had not been completed at the time of these reports. Election of a speaker would be a procedural first for the party; it would not by itself give the AfD a governing majority.