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Germany's Far-Right AfD Claims Speaker Role in State Parliament for the First Time Since WWII

Tobias Rausch elected with support from leftwing BSW, breaking traditional 'firewall'

By LineZotpaper
Published
Updated
Read Time2 min
Sources2 outlets
The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has secured the position of speaker of a regional parliament for the first time since the second world war, after Tobias Rausch was elected president of Saxony-Anhalt's state parliament on Tuesday. Rausch, a former estate agent, won 48 of 82 votes in the first round, with support from the leftwing BSW party, whose leaders called for an end to the 'firewall' that has long excluded the AfD from such roles.

The election took place at the inaugural gathering of members in the state capital, Magdeburg, following the state election last month. Rausch's deputy, Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, from the party's more extreme wing, was also elected later in the day.

The AfD is classified as 'rightwing extremist' by Saxony-Anhalt's intelligence agency. Its parliamentary group holds 39 seats, just short of an absolute majority. The BSW, a small leftwing party that mirrors the AfD's stances on Russia and immigration, provided crucial support. Five BSW politicians had announced they would vote for Rausch, and the final tally suggests four other MPs also supported him in the secret ballot.

The willingness of the BSW to break the 'firewall', a moral agreement among mainstream parties to shun the AfD, gives the party a chance of forming a state government, a historic first. BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht called for an end to 'firewall idiocy,' while party deputy leader Christian Leye said 'the firewall is not working' and argued that the votes of nearly 44% of electors could not be ignored.

Protesters gathered outside the parliament building in Magdeburg after the result. The election came two weeks after the AfD won nearly 44% of votes in the state election last month, a result that dealt a hammer blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his centre-right Christian Democrats.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The election of a far-right speaker in a German state parliament breaks a longstanding post-war political taboo.
  • It could pave the way for the AfD to form a coalition government in Saxony-Anhalt, shifting the balance of power in eastern Germany.
  • The decision by the leftwing BSW to back the AfD signals that the 'firewall' against the far-right is eroding, with potential implications for federal politics.

Background

The AfD has become a major political force in eastern Germany, particularly in Saxony-Anhalt, where it won nearly 44% of the vote in last month's state election. The party is classified as 'rightwing extremist' by the state's intelligence agency. Mainstream parties have long maintained a 'firewall', an agreement not to enter coalitions or cooperate with the AfD at any level. The BSW, a small leftwing party that echoes the AfD's stances on Russia and immigration, has voiced support for ending this isolation.

Key Perspectives

AfD: By securing the speakership, the party has achieved a historic first and gains procedural influence in the state parliament. BSW: The party argues that the firewall is undemocratic and that the votes of nearly half the electorate cannot be ignored. Founder Sahra Wagenknecht has called the firewall 'idiocy'. Mainstream parties: The CDU and others have traditionally upheld the firewall to prevent legitimizing a party deemed extremist. The BSW's break is seen as a significant breach. Protesters and critics: Opponents of the AfD gathered outside the parliament, expressing dismay at the normalization of the party.

What to Watch

  • Whether the AfD can now form a governing coalition in Saxony-Anhalt, possibly with BSW support.
  • Reactions from the CDU and other mainstream parties, both in the state and at the federal level.
  • Potential impact on the broader political landscape in Germany as the firewall weakens.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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