Politics · Germany · 4 hrs ago
Saxony-Anhalt CDU leaders propose leaving chamber during premier vote
The CDU in Saxony-Anhalt is discussing how to stop its lawmakers from helping elect AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund as state minister-president.
Bundestag member Sepp Müller and parliamentary manager Stefan Ruland have proposed that the CDU group leave the state parliament chamber together during the first vote and, if needed, the second.
The proposal follows suspicion that some CDU lawmakers backed AfD candidates in secret votes for state parliament posts last week.
Müller said the secrecy of the vote must be respected and lawmakers should be protected from personal attacks.
The CDU had previously said it would vote against an AfD candidate and would not leave the chamber.
In the first two rounds, a candidate needs votes from a majority of all members of the state parliament; in a third round, a majority of votes cast is enough.
The AfD plans the minister-president vote for mid-December.
Saxony-Anhalt CDU figures have proposed that the party’s lawmakers leave the state parliament chamber during the first two rounds of the premier vote.
The proposal is intended to prevent CDU lawmakers from helping elect AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund.
Bundestag member Sepp Müller backed the idea in a post on X, sharing a proposal by parliamentary manager Stefan Ruland.
The suggestion follows controversy over AfD candidates receiving more votes than their factions had announced in recent parliamentary elections.
The premier vote is planned for mid-December, according to the article.
- Who
- Saxony-Anhalt CDU lawmakers; the proposal was backed by Sepp Müller and put forward by Stefan Ruland.
- What
- They were urged to leave the chamber together during the first and, if needed, second rounds of the premier vote.
- When
- The proposal was reported on 12 October 2026. The vote is planned for mid-December.
- Where
- The Saxony-Anhalt state parliament.
- Why
- To prevent votes from within the CDU ranks from helping elect AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund.
Proposal advocates
Ruland’s earlier stated position
Chamber walkout
Proposal advocates
Ruland proposed recommending that the CDU faction leave the chamber together during the first and, if necessary, second rounds.
Ruland’s earlier stated position
In late September, Ruland said the CDU would vote against an AfD candidate in every round and would not leave the chamber.
Ruland said the CDU would vote against an AfD candidate in every round and would not leave the chamber.
AfD candidates Tobias Rausch and Hans-Thomas Tillschneider received more votes than their factions had announced in elections for parliamentary posts.
Müller backed Ruland’s proposal for the CDU faction to leave the chamber during the premier vote’s first and, if needed, second rounds.
The premier vote is planned to take place.
- Proposed action
- CDU faction to leave the chamber together
- AfD candidate for premier
- Ulrich Siegmund
- Proposal backers
- Sepp Müller and Stefan Ruland
- Proposed rounds
- First and, if needed, second
- Planned vote
- Mid-December
What people are saying
The secrecy of the ballot must be respected and our lawmakers must be protected from personal attacks. This does not change our clear position towards the AfD.
I have just proposed, in consultation with the parliamentary group leader, to the acting parliamentary group executive that it recommend the group leave the plenary chamber together for the election of the Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt.
We will not vote for an AfD candidate, but vote no, in every round. We will also not leave the chamber; that would be a parliamentary impropriety.
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,
Ich unterstütze diesen Vorschlag ausdrücklich. Auch ich bin nach zahlreichen Gesprächen am Wochenende zu der Einschätzung gelangt, dass dieser Schritt notwendig ist. Das Wahlgeheimnis ist zu achten und unsere Abgeordneten sind vor persönlichen Angriffen zu schützen. An unserer
Sources
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