BSW pledges votes to elect AfD lawmaker Tobias Rausch as Saxony-Anhalt Landtag president

Presidium nominations and parliamentary mathematics

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) state parliamentary caucus in Saxony-Anhalt unanimously nominated Tobias Rausch for president of the state Landtag and Hans-Thomas Tillschneider for vice president ahead of the constituent session in Magdeburg on Tuesday. Co-caucus leader Oliver Kirchner announced the decisions following a parliamentary group meeting. Tillschneider, an Islamic studies scholar who serves as deputy state and caucus chairman, previously led the far-right Flügel faction and has drawn attention for past parliamentary provocations.

The AfD holds 39 seats in the Landtag after winning nearly 44% of the vote. The combined caucuses of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Die Linke, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), and the Greens also hold 39 seats, while the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) holds 5 seats. With 42 votes required for a majority in the 83-seat chamber, the 5 BSW lawmakers hold the decisive balance of power to confirm Rausch.

BSW position and competing presidium candidates

The BSW in Saxony-Anhalt confirmed that its lawmakers will vote for Rausch during Tuesday's constituent session. The party stated that the AfD finished as the strongest force with nearly 44% of the vote and that the parliament's rules of procedure allocate the presidency to the largest parliamentary group. Kirchner stated that the AfD had not yet received indications from the BSW regarding whether it would also back Tillschneider for the vice presidency.

Other political groups nominated their own candidates for the presidium's vice-presidential seats. The CDU selected education policy spokesperson Carsten Borchert, while the SPD nominated Science Minister Armin Willingmann. Tobias Rausch, who has not drawn attention for far-right statements but has not opposed far-right positions within his party, is positioned to secure the presidency with BSW backing.

Federal criticism from Greens and Die Linke

The planned vote drew condemnation from federal party leaders in Berlin. Green Party co-leader Felix Banaszak stated that the BSW is enabling the AfD to secure power without holding an absolute majority on its own, noting that what began as an electoral alternative to the AfD has turned into an initiative on its behalf.

For the first time since 1945, a right-wing extremist will stand at the head of a German parliament.

Banaszak announced that he and members of the Green federal board will travel to Magdeburg on Tuesday to participate in public demonstrations against the vote.

To those who will smirk there tomorrow, I say: do not rejoice too soon. You will not get our fear, you will not get our resignation and our fatalism, but our democratic resistance.

Intelligence classification and voting stances

Die Linke party chairman Luigi Pantisano joined the criticism, describing the cooperation in Magdeburg as a warning for German politics as a whole.

What is happening this week in Saxony-Anhalt is a warning for the entire country.

The state intelligence agency (Verfassungsschutz) classifies the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt as a confirmed right-wing extremist organization. While the Greens, SPD, and Die Linke stated they will reject the AfD nominee, CDU caucus leader Sven Schulze recommended that CDU lawmakers abstain from the presidential ballot.