Tobias Rausch of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, known as the AfD, has been elected president of the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt.
According to the parliament’s official account, Rausch received 48 votes in a secret ballot on Tuesday, 6 October. Twenty-nine lawmakers voted against him and five abstained.
The vote took place in Magdeburg during the newly elected parliament’s first sitting. Eighty-two of its 83 members attended, and all ballots cast were valid.
Support beyond the AfD
n-tv reports that Rausch is the first AfD politician to hold the presidency of a German parliament.
The AfD has 39 seats in Saxony-Anhalt, while the BSW has five. The BSW had announced that it would support Rausch.
His 48 votes exceeded the two parties’ combined strength by four. Because the ballot was secret, the result does not identify the lawmakers who provided those additional votes.
Before the election, the SPD, Greens and Left party had indicated they would oppose him, while the CDU planned to abstain, according to n-tv.
What the position means
Deutschlandfunk’s explanation of the role says the parliamentary president represents the legislature, chairs plenary sessions and oversees compliance with its procedural rules.
The position also carries responsibility for maintaining order, including issuing disciplinary warnings and excluding members from sittings.
Rausch’s election therefore gives him authority over parliamentary proceedings. It does not appoint him head of the state government, which is a separate position.
Deutschlandfunk reports that the 35-year-old trained in property management and has served in the state parliament since 2016.
Promise of impartial leadership
In his first address, Rausch said he would serve the whole parliament and apply its rules consistently, according to n-tv.
The broadcaster also reported that he intended to retain his position as general secretary of the AfD’s state organisation.
Deutschlandfunk says opposition politicians have raised concerns about impartiality because of his continuing party role. It also reports that Saxony-Anhalt’s domestic intelligence service classifies the state AfD organisation as confirmed right-wing extremist.
Deputies also elected
The state parliament’s official statement confirms that lawmakers subsequently elected the AfD’s Hans-Thomas Tillschneider and the CDU’s Carsten Borchert as vice-presidents.
SPD candidate Armin Willingmann was unsuccessful. Following the election of the two deputies, Rausch declared the parliament formally constituted and closed its first sitting.
