Politics · Germany · 3 hrs ago
Siegmund no longer rules out multiple rounds in state premier vote
AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund may run in more than one round of the December vote to become premier of Saxony-Anhalt, a state in eastern Germany.
He had previously said he would stand only once, but now says he may reconsider depending on how the vote unfolds.
The CDU plans to leave the chamber, while the BSW plans to abstain; Siegmund needs three votes from other groups to win a majority.
If the first vote fails, another vote must take place within seven days, and a failed second vote can lead to a possible early dissolution of the state parliament.
In a third vote, a majority of votes cast is enough, so abstentions could help Siegmund win.
But he warns that other groups might then block key proposals, which he says could also harm the AfD nationally.
Ulrich Siegmund no longer rules out standing in a second or third round of the vote for state premier of Saxony-Anhalt.
The AfD candidate said the political situation may need to be reassessed after the CDU decided to leave the state parliament chamber during the vote.
The BSW plans to abstain, while Siegmund needs three votes from other parliamentary groups to win a majority.
If the first two votes fail, a third round could take place, in which a majority of votes cast is enough.
Siegmund said he wants to avoid losing credibility and warned that other parties could later block important proposals.
- Who
- Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD candidate for state premier of Saxony-Anhalt.
- What
- He no longer rules out standing in a second or third round of the state premier vote.
- When
- The vote is due in December. The article was published on November 6, 2026.
- Where
- Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
- Why
- The CDU plans to leave the chamber during the vote, and Siegmund says the political situation may need to be reassessed.
Ulrich Siegmund
CDU
Approach to later rounds
Ulrich Siegmund
Siegmund no longer rules out standing in a second or third round.
CDU
The CDU has decided to leave the chamber during the vote.
Political support
Ulrich Siegmund
Siegmund needs three votes from other parliamentary groups for a majority.
CDU
CDU leader Sven Schulze said the party would decide case by case whether to support AfD proposals, but would not serve as the AfD’s vote-getter.
Siegmund had said he would stand only once.
The CDU parliamentary group decided to leave the chamber during the vote, and the BSW said it would abstain.
Siegmund said he no longer ruled out standing in a second or third round.
- Candidate
- Ulrich Siegmund
- Party
- AfD
- State
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Scheduled vote
- December
- Votes needed from other groups
- Three
- Third-round threshold
- A majority of votes cast
What people are saying
Whether I then stand a second or third time—or someone else does—we will see.
The decisive thing is that I do not lose my credibility.
Ulrich Siegmund will be state premier.
We will decide case by case. For us there is only one criterion: Does it benefit the state?