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[POLITICS] · Germany · 122 sources (showing 100)

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AfD's Tobias Rausch elected President of Saxony-Anhalt Landtag

Tobias Rausch of the AfD has been elected President of the Saxony-Anhalt Landtag, marking the first time a member of an far-right party has held this position in a German state since 1945. Rausch secured 48 votes in a secret ballot, a total that exceeds the combined seats of the AfD and the BSW (44 seats). This outcome has sparked intense political debate regarding the potential involvement of CDU lawmakers, as Rausch indicated that agreements existed with four CDU members to support his election and potentially support AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund for minister-president in December.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has condemned the results, describing the rise of political extremism as a threat to democracy and suggesting the possibility of 'false-flag operations' intended to discredit the CDU. Meanwhile, Robert Habeck warned that if the political center fails to address social issues and regain trust, similar shifts toward the AfD could occur at the federal level.

In response to the election, BMW has reportedly declined to extend a leasing agreement for the official service vehicle intended for the Landtag President. The AfD remains the strongest force in the state following the September elections but lacks an absolute majority, complicating future government formation efforts.

Entities

AfD · Alternative for Germany · Alternative für Deutschland · CDU · Christian Democratic Union · Christian Democratic Union of Germany · Friedrich Merz · Saxony-Anhalt · Saxony-Anhalt Landtag · Tobias Rausch · Ulrich Siegmund

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Sources

Lauterbach gegen Rot-Grün-Rot in Berlin [www.juedische-allgemeine.de]
Der lange Weg zur Macht - COMPACT [www.compact-online.de]