12 hrs ago
Germany’s AfD Poised to Lead Saxony-Anhalt State Assembly
The AfD party won the most votes in an election in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Its lawmakers are expected to try to elect Tobias Rausch as the state assembly’s speaker on Tuesday.
If he wins, it would be the first time a far-right party has held that job in post-war Germany.
The AfD has 39 seats, so it needs help from other lawmakers.
The BSW party has said it will support an AfD speaker.
Some groups plan to protest, and other parties have expressed concern.
The AfD also hopes its state leader, Ulrich Siegmund, will become premier in December.
The article says he has not yet secured BSW support for that role.
The AfD won nearly 44 percent of last month’s Saxony-Anhalt election, taking 39 of 83 seats.
State lawmakers are due to meet Tuesday in Magdeburg and elect an assembly speaker.
AfD candidate Tobias Rausch is expected to win, which would be a first for a far-right party in post-war Germany.
The AfD needs support from other parties; the five-member BSW has said it will back an AfD speaker.
Protests are planned, while other parties have raised concerns; the AfD also hopes to win the state premiership in December.
- Who
- The AfD and newly elected Saxony-Anhalt lawmakers; Tobias Rausch is the AfD’s expected speaker candidate.
- What
- Lawmakers are due to elect a state assembly speaker, with Rausch expected to win.
- Where
- The parliament building in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
- When
- Tuesday; the article does not give a calendar date.
- Why
- The newly elected assembly is convening for its first session and must elect a speaker.
Critics and protesters
AfD and prospective supporters
AfD speaker
Critics and protesters
Activist groups are urging other parties not to cooperate with the AfD, and Linke leader Eva von Angern has warned of historical parallels.
AfD and prospective supporters
The AfD is expected to elect Tobias Rausch as speaker, and the BSW has said it will support an AfD candidate.
Further political cooperation
Critics and protesters
The CDU regional leader, Sven Schulze, said there would be no defectors from his party to support the AfD.
AfD and prospective supporters
The AfD is seeking support from CDU lawmakers and hopes its leader, Ulrich Siegmund, will become premier in December.
Key facts
- AfD election result
- Nearly 44 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt last month
- AfD seats
- 39 of 83
- Expected speaker candidate
- Tobias Rausch
- Assembly session
- Scheduled for 11:00 a.m. local time (0900 GMT) Tuesday
- BSW lawmakers
- Five; the party has said it will support an AfD speaker
- AfD state-premier ambition
- Ulrich Siegmund hopes to be elected premier in December; BSW has not committed to backing him
- AfD classification
- Classified as a “confirmed extremist” organisation by domestic intelligence in Saxony-Anhalt
Sources
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