Politics · Germany · 7 hrs ago
Saxony-Anhalt CDU considers leaving chamber during AfD leader’s election
The CDU in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt is considering leaving the state parliament during a December vote on whether AfD leader Ulrich Siegmund should become minister-president.
The party’s parliamentary group is due to vote on the plan.
CDU leaders say they will not support an AfD candidate, and the walkout is intended to prevent speculation about how CDU members might vote.
The proposal follows a secret ballot that elected AfD politician Tobias Rausch as state parliament president with more votes than the AfD and BSW parties hold seats.
Because the ballot was secret, it is not known where the extra votes came from, but the CDU has faced suspicion that some of its members may have broken party ranks.
CDU deputy leader Sepp Müller supports the walkout, saying members who cast no ballot cannot be accused of voting for Siegmund.
The AfD says it is holding talks with the BSW and individual members of other parties.
Saxony-Anhalt’s CDU is considering having its lawmakers leave the state parliament chamber if AfD leader Ulrich Siegmund seeks election as minister-president in December.
The proposed move is intended to prevent speculation that CDU lawmakers might vote for Siegmund.
CDU parliamentary leader Sven Schulze and parliamentary manager Stefan Ruland said on Monday that the caucus would vote on the plan on Tuesday.
The proposal follows the election of AfD lawmaker Tobias Rausch as state parliament president, in a secret ballot that gave him more votes than the AfD and BSW held seats.
The AfD said it was holding talks with the BSW and individual lawmakers from other parties.
- Who
- Saxony-Anhalt’s CDU is considering the move; AfD leader Ulrich Siegmund is the prospective candidate.
- What
- CDU lawmakers may leave the chamber during the minister-president election.
- When
- The caucus was due to vote on the plan on Tuesday; Siegmund may seek election in December.
- Where
- The Saxony-Anhalt state parliament in Magdeburg.
- Why
- The CDU says the move would prevent speculation about possible CDU votes for Siegmund.
Saxony-Anhalt CDU
AfD
Plan for the election
Saxony-Anhalt CDU
The CDU is considering leaving the chamber if Siegmund seeks election as minister-president.
AfD
Siegmund may seek election in December; the AfD said it was in talks with the BSW and individual lawmakers from other parties.
Support for an AfD candidate
Saxony-Anhalt CDU
CDU parliamentary manager Stefan Ruland said the party continues to rule out supporting an AfD candidate.
AfD
The AfD said it was holding talks with other parties’ lawmakers.
AfD lawmaker Tobias Rausch was elected state parliament president in a secret ballot.
CDU parliamentary leader Sven Schulze and parliamentary manager Stefan Ruland said the caucus would vote on the chamber-exit proposal.
The CDU caucus was due to vote on the proposal.
Ulrich Siegmund may seek election as minister-president.
- Proposed action
- CDU lawmakers may leave the chamber during the election
- Prospective candidate
- Ulrich Siegmund
- Planned election month
- December
- Caucus vote
- Tuesday
- Previous election
- Tobias Rausch was elected state parliament president in a secret ballot
What people are saying
We continue to rule out supporting an AfD candidate.
Anyone who does not cast a ballot cannot be accused of anything afterwards.
None of our colleagues will have to be asked individually again how they voted.
Posts on X
Nach am Wochenende zwischen mir und dem Fraktionsvorsitzenden begonnenen Überlegungen zum Umgang mit der Wahl eines Ministerpräsidenten, habe ich in Absprache mit dem Fraktionsvorsitzenden dem geschäftsführenden Fraktionsvorstand soeben vorgeschlagen, der Fraktion zu empfehlen,
Sources
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