Politics · Germany · 15 hrs ago
AfD seeks support for Siegmund ahead of Saxony-Anhalt premier vote
The AfD’s Ulrich Siegmund wants to lead Saxony-Anhalt, a German state where his party won the most seats in September.
The AfD has 39 of the state parliament’s 83 seats, three short of the 42 needed for a majority.
The premier vote is expected on December 15, and Siegmund needs support beyond his own party to win in the first two rounds.
The CDU says it will leave the chamber for those rounds, while the SPD, Greens and Left plan to vote against him.
The BSW has said it plans to abstain, but AfD and BSW are discussing policy cooperation, and AfD leaders say they see common ground.
If Siegmund wins, he would be the first premier from a far-right party in a German state; if he loses, the current CDU premier would remain in a caretaker role for now.
AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund wants to become minister-president of Saxony-Anhalt, but it is unclear whether he can win the required votes.
The AfD has 39 of 83 seats in the state parliament, three short of an absolute majority.
The election is expected to take place at a parliamentary session on December 15.
The CDU says it will leave the chamber during the first two ballots, while the SPD, Left and Greens say they will vote against Siegmund.
The BSW has so far said it plans to abstain, but AfD and BSW representatives are discussing areas of common ground.
- Who
- AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund is seeking to become minister-president of Saxony-Anhalt.
- What
- He faces an uncertain vote, with his party short of an absolute majority and the BSW's position in question.
- When
- The election is expected at a session on December 15; the year is not stated.
- Where
- Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
- Why
- The AfD has 39 of 83 seats and needs support beyond its own parliamentary group to reach an absolute majority.
Siegmund's potential supporters
Opponents of Siegmund
Support for his election
Siegmund's potential supporters
AfD representatives are exploring cooperation with the BSW, and AfD co-leader Oliver Kirchner says the parties have many areas in common.
Opponents of Siegmund
The CDU plans to leave the chamber for the first two ballots, while the SPD, Left and Greens say they will vote against Siegmund.
BSW's role
Siegmund's potential supporters
AfD representatives say they are discussing policy cooperation and could envisage a lasting partnership with the BSW.
Opponents of Siegmund
The BSW has so far said it plans to abstain in the minister-president vote and has denied intending to elect Siegmund.
The AfD won the Saxony-Anhalt state election but fell short of its goal of governing alone.
AfD and BSW representatives met in Magdeburg to discuss issues including peace, migration and the handling of the pandemic.
The election of the minister-president is expected at a session of the state parliament.
- AfD seats
- 39 of 83
- Seats short of an absolute majority
- 3
- Expected election date
- December 15
- AfD-BSW meeting
- Magdeburg
- Possible third-ballot tie
- 39 to 39
3 sources
What people are saying
Die haben viele Schnittmengen mit uns
Ich bitte wirklich darum, uns das erst mal verhandeln zu lassen, das schriftlich zu fixieren, dass jeder nicht irgendwann nach zwei Jahren sagt: Na ja, so hatten wir das nicht besprochen. Alles, was schriftlich fixiert ist, ist da
Die bringen uns dann vielleicht auf einen Kurs, wo wir sagen, das hätten wir vielleicht anders gehabt