Saxony-Anhalt elects Germany’s first far-right state parliament speaker since 1945

Tobias Rausch of Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has been elected president and speaker of Saxony-Anhalt’s state parliament. It is the first time since the second world war that a far-right party has secured the speakership of a German regional parliament.

At the new parliament’s inaugural meeting in Magdeburg, Rausch won 48 of 82 votes. Twenty-nine lawmakers voted against him and five abstained. Later, Hans-Thomas Tillschneider was elected his deputy with 44 votes.

The AfD holds 39 seats and is just short of an absolute majority. Five lawmakers from the leftwing BSW had said they would back Rausch; the secret ballot indicates that four additional MPs also voted for him.

BSW support breaks the firewall

The BSW cited the nearly 44% of votes won by the AfD in last month’s state election. Its deputy leader, Christian Leye, told German media that parties should engage with the AfD’s programme rather than isolate it.

The BSW says it will support an AfD-led state parliament only if a nonpartisan figure is appointed to lead it. The AfD rejects that condition. Ulrich Siegmund, the party’s state leader, has until December to form a government; CDU leaders deny AfD claims that it is courting their lawmakers.

Tillschneider wins deputy post

Tillschneider belongs to the AfD’s more extreme wing and helped develop its “radical” manifesto. He is being lined up as the state’s culture and science minister. He has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and sharply criticised immigrants.

In his acceptance speech, Rausch promised to represent all positions, take differing views seriously and make decisions transparently. He was applauded by his own group and BSW lawmakers, while other MPs did not respond.

AfD increases pressure on Merz

Saxony-Anhalt’s intelligence agency classifies the AfD as “rightwing extremist”. The state election, along with two other regional contests in September, has increased pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz. After taking office in 2025, he pledged to halve the AfD’s support, but the party has risen to 30% in national polls.

Green lawmaker Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz said those who gave a representative of an extremist and anti-constitutional party the post would be responsible for the consequences. Die Linke’s Eva von Angern compared Rausch’s election with Hermann Göring’s use of the Reichstag presidency in the 1930s.

Rausch previously denied claims that several relatives worked in the state parliament, but confirmed that he employed several players from the football club where he is a member. Von Angern also said the AfD’s victory was already reflected in lower tourist numbers and teachers withdrawing job applications.