State parliament elects Germany’s first far-right speaker since second world war
Summary
Germany’s far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has, for the first time since World War II, gained the speaker position in a regional parliament. Tobias Rausch was elected speaker in Saxony-Anhalt with support from his party and some members of a small left-wing party. His deputy, Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, from the more extreme wing of AfD, was also elected.Key Facts
- Tobias Rausch of the AfD was elected speaker of Saxony-Anhalt’s state parliament with 48 out of 82 votes.
- Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, from AfD’s more extreme wing, was elected deputy speaker with 44 votes.
- AfD won nearly 44% of votes in the last state election, reducing support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU party.
- Five members of the left-wing BSW party supported Rausch, breaking the usual agreement to exclude AfD from cooperation.
- This cooperation may help AfD form a government in Saxony-Anhalt, a significant change in postwar German politics.
- Tillschneider is expected to become culture and science minister and has made controversial statements supporting Vladimir Putin and criticizing immigration.
- Rausch said he will represent all opinions and make transparent decisions.
- Rausch was involved in a nepotism scandal related to employing family members but denied many allegations.
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