[REVISION HISTORY]

AfD seeks Minister-Presidency amid Saxony-Anhalt tensions

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2026-11-06 22:04 UTC → 2026-11-09 07:05 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following the AfD’s historic victory in Saxony-Anhalt, candidate Ulrich Siegmund has announced his intention to run for Minister-President in December. Although the AfD emerged as the largest faction with 43.8 percent of the vote (39 seats), it lacks the absolute majority of 42 votes required for an immediate win. To counter this, the CDU has announced it will boycott the first two rounds of voting by leaving the plenary hall. Siegmund has criticized this move as a “procedural trick” intended to undermine democratic decisions and has indicated he may now participate in second or third rounds of voting to maintain political credibility. Political shifts have already occurred within the state parliament. Tobias Rausch of the AfD was elected President of the Saxony-Anhalt Landtag, receiving 48 votes. Rausch has expressed a willingness to resign his role as AfD state general secretary to address criticisms regarding his neutrality, though he rejects allegations of bias. Additionally, Rausch has drawn attention for his interest in inviting foreign ambassadors from the United States, Israel, and Russia to meet in Magdeburg, a move that raises questions regarding Article 32 of the German Basic Law. Negotiations continue regarding a potential minority government. AfD leader Oliver Kirchner indicated discussions with the BSW regarding a written agreement for substantive cooperation, though the BSW has ruled out a formal coalition and intends to abstain from the vote. CDU parliamentary leader Sven Schulze indicated the party might support AfD motions on a case-by-case basis if they benefit the state, but cautioned the CDU would not act as a majority provider for the AfD. In response to the AfD’s rise, migrant organizations have demanded a federal-state commission to protect minorities, while the group ‘Omas gegen Rechts’ has urged all parties except the AfD to nominate a non-partisan Minister-President. Die Linke is deliberating whether to nominate Eva von Angern as a candidate for Minister-President to provide an alternative to Siegmund. Von Angern, a jurist, argued that the AfD represents “backward-looking politics and a division of the country.”

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