AfD wins state parliament speakership in Saxony-Anhalt with far-left backing
Tobias Rausch of the Alternative for Germany party secured election as speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament on Tuesday, securing 48 votes with 29 opposing and five abstentions. This milestone marks the first time the far-right party has captured a parliamentary speakership in any German state legislature since the end of the Second World War. The breakthrough follows an electoral win in eastern Germany that tests the national political firewall meant to isolate the party.
Listen to Live Briefing
Real-time synthesized voice briefing · Live Feeds Desk
- ✓ Tobias Rausch of the Alternative for Germany party was elected speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament on Tuesday, receiving 48 votes with 29 opposing and five abstentions.
- ✓ This event marks the first time a German state parliament has chosen a parliamentary speaker from the far right since the end of World War II.
What changed
Tobias Rausch won election as speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt regional parliament on Tuesday.
Live updates
-
AfD Wins Saxony-Anhalt Speakership With Far-Left Backing
Tobias Rausch of the Alternative for Germany party secured election as speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament on Tuesday, securing 48 votes with 29 opposing and five abstentions. This milestone marks the first time the far-right party has captured a parliamentary speakership in any German state legislature since the end of the Second World War. The breakthrough follows an electoral win in eastern Germany that tests the national political firewall meant to isolate the party.
Why it matters
The Alternative for Germany was founded in 2013 and has grown from an anti-Eurozone movement into a major political force holding seats in federal and European parliaments. Mainstream German parties have traditionally maintained a strict firewall refusing cooperation with the far right. Capturing the statehouse speaker position in Saxony-Anhalt challenges this isolation strategy as the party attempts to translate electoral gains into institutional power.
What is confirmed
- Tobias Rausch of the Alternative for Germany party was elected speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament on Tuesday, receiving 48 votes with 29 opposing and five abstentions.
- This event marks the first time a German state parliament has chosen a parliamentary speaker from the far right since the end of World War II.
Still unconfirmed
- The election of the Alternative for Germany candidate to the speakership occurred with far-left backing.
What to watch next
- Efforts by the Alternative for Germany to form a state government in Saxony-Anhalt
- Reactions from federal German lawmakers regarding the cracking firewall against the far right
confidence 95%Sources used for this update (26)
- apnews.com — AfD party’s landslide win in eastern Germany tests country’s ‘firewall’ against the far right
- en.wikipedia.org — Alternative for Germany - Wikipedia
- www.eurosocialists.org — What Is the AfD Party in Germany and What Does It Believe ...
- www.ajc.org — What Is Germany’s AfD, and What Does Its Rise Mean for Jews?
- www.afd.de — AfD - Alternative für Deutschland
- AP News — Far-right election win leaves migrants questioning their future in eastern Germany
- The New York Times — Lawmakers Set to Elect Germany’s 1st Far-Right Statehouse Speaker Since 1945
- dw.com — Germany news: Far-right AfD gets first house speaker in a German state parliament
- Bloomberg.com — German Far Right Wins First Top Post as It Seeks to Lead State
- Politico — AfD wins state parliament speakership in Saxony-Anhalt with far-left backing
- BBC — AfD candidate Rausch elected speaker of German regional parliament for first time
- Reuters — Germany's far-right AfD struggles to form first state government after landmark win
Community Sentiment: How do you assess this situation?
Voice your perspective · Real-time aggregated sentiment from the Live Feeds community