AfD's Tobias Rausch elected speaker of Saxony-Anhalt state parliament
In short
Tobias Rausch of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) was elected speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, the first time an AfD politician has headed a German Landtag. He received 48 votes in favour and 29 against, according to reports on the inaugural session in Magdeburg. The AfD won 43.8% in the state's September 6 election and holds 39 of 83 seats.
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Tobias Rausch of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) was elected chairman of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, according to Russian outlets citing German media. RBC, citing ZDF, and Kommersant reported that this is the first time an AfD politician has headed a German Landtag; Kommersant, citing Euronews, said it is the first such case since 1945. Meduza reported that Rausch is 35 years old. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
The vote took place at the inaugural session of the newly elected parliament in Magdeburg. Kommersant and Meduza reported that 48 deputies voted for Rausch and 29 against; Meduza added that five deputies abstained. TASS reported that 48 deputies voted for the AfD candidate. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The AfD won the Saxony-Anhalt election on September 6 with 43.8% of the vote and holds 39 of 83 seats, Kommersant and Meduza reported. As the largest parliamentary group, the party had the right to nominate a candidate for speaker, according to Kommersant. Meduza reported that the AfD got the chance to elect its candidate because of support from the Alliance of Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), with the two parties holding 44 of 83 seats; both oppose support for Ukraine and favour talks with Moscow and renewed purchases of Russian raw materials. [ 4 , 6 ]
Kommersant reported that the speaker chairs plenary sessions and the council of elders and heads the parliamentary administration, and cited political scientist Nicholas Spohn telling Focus that the powers concern “above all procedural questions and competences linked to the parliament's rules of procedure”. Kommersant also reported that the post does not amount to a coalition agreement with the AfD, as the CDU, SPD, the Greens and the Left have agreed not to cooperate or form coalitions with the party. Meduza, for its part, reported that before the vote Rausch threatened to dissolve parliament and hold new elections if he was not elected, and that AfD parliamentary group co-chairman Ulrich Siegmund is also seeking the post of minister-president of Saxony-Anhalt. [ 4 , 6 ]
Rausch described his political style as follows, according to DPA via Kommersant: “I am not a supporter of a hard line, I am a pragmatist,” adding that he intends to “take the interests of all sides into account as far as possible”. Kommersant reported that it remains unclear how exactly a speaker from the AfD will perform his duties. [ 4 ]
Reactions were also reported by Russian state outlets. RIA Novosti reported that Sahra Wagenknecht supported the appointment, and TASS reported that Dmitriev called Rausch's election an awakening. Kommersant noted as background that AfD representatives received their first local-level leadership posts in July 2023, including the district administrator's office in Sonneberg in Thuringia. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The vote gives the AfD, a party other German parties have pledged not to work with, control of the procedural running of a state parliament for the first time. Russian state outlets treated the result as a notable political development in Germany, and the outcome is being watched as a test of how far-right parties can translate regional election wins into institutional posts.
Key facts
- Tobias Rausch of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) was elected chairman of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament (Landtag). [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- Rausch is the first politician from the AfD to head a German state parliament, according to Kommersant, citing Euronews, the first such case since 1945. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The vote was held at the inaugural session of the newly elected parliament in Magdeburg. [ 5 , 6 ]
- Rausch received 48 votes in favour and 29 against; five deputies abstained, according to Meduza. [ 4 , 6 ]
- The AfD won 43.8% in the Saxony-Anhalt election on September 6 and holds 39 of 83 seats. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Meduza reported that the AfD secured the speaker post with support from the BSW alliance; the two parties hold 44 of 83 seats together. [ 6 ]
- Kommersant reported that the CDU, SPD, the Greens and the Left party have agreed not to cooperate or form coalitions with the AfD. [ 4 ]
- Rausch said his political style is pragmatic rather than hardline and that he intends to take the interests of all sides into account as far as possible, DPA reported. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Tobias Rausch of the AfD was elected chairman of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- It is the first time an AfD politician has held the post of a German state parliament chairman. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The election took place in Magdeburg at the parliament's inaugural session. [ 5 , 6 ]
- The result was 48 votes in favour and 29 against. [ 4 , 6 ]
- The AfD won 43.8% of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt election on September 6 and holds 39 of 83 seats. [ 4 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether five deputies abstained, as Meduza reported Only Meduza gives an abstention figure; Kommersant reports only 48 in favour and 29 against.
- Whether Rausch will act on his pre-election threat to dissolve parliament and call new elections if he was not elected The threat is reported only by Meduza, and the documents do not say what he will do now.
- How Rausch will exercise the speaker's powers Politologist Nicholas Spohn told Focus it is still unclear how a speaker from the AfD will carry out his duties, and Kommersant says the powers are mainly procedural.
- Whether Ulrich Siegmund will become minister-president of Saxony-Anhalt Meduza says he is seeking the post but does not report an outcome.
- The identity and role of the Dmitriev cited by TASS The TASS report names Dmitriev without stating his position or affiliation.
- Which state parliament was meant in the RIA Novosti headline referring to “Saxony” RIA Novosti's headline says Saxony, while all other documents refer to Saxony-Anhalt.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti reports that Sahra Wagenknecht supported the appointment of the AfD's candidate as state parliament chairman. [ 1 ]
- TASS reports that an AfD representative, Rausch, was elected chairman of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament for the first time in Germany. [ 2 ]
- RBC, citing ZDF, reports that an AfD politician has led a German state parliament for the first time. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reports the vote was 48 in favour and 29 against, and, citing Euronews, that it is the first such case since 1945. [ 4 ]
- TASS reports that Dmitriev described Rausch's election as an awakening, noting 48 deputies voted for the AfD candidate in Magdeburg. [ 5 ]
- Meduza reports the 48-29 vote with five abstentions, the BSW's supporting role, and Rausch's earlier threat to dissolve parliament. [ 6 ]
- RIA Novosti reports, citing media, that an AfD member was elected chairman of the state parliament. [ 7 ]