Germany's first AfD state speaker: Rausch elected speaker of Saxony-Anhalt

For the first time, Germany has elected a state parliament speaker from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. 35-year-old Tobias Rausch was elected speaker of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. On Tuesday (October 6), Rausch received 48 votes in the state parliament in Magdeburg, reaching the necessary majority.

Rausch currently serves as chief of staff of the AfD group in the cantonal parliament of Saxony-Anhalt and secretary-general of the AfD in the state. In addition to his own party's seats, nine MPs from outside the AfD voted in favor of Rausch. The BSW group in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, which has officially announced its support for Rausch in advance, has five seats. This means that four more votes in favor came from outside the AfD and BSW.

According to a report by German TV station, because the vote counting was not public, it was unclear which camp Rausch received support. The CDU party presidium had previously recommended that 15 of its members abstain from voting. The Social Democratic Party, the Green Party and the Left Party each have 8 seats and have previously expressed their opposition to voting for Rausch.

In his speech after his election, Rausch hoped to dispel concerns about his tenure. "I will not be the speaker of a certain party group, but of the entire Saxony-Anhalt parliament."

German television reported that the state speaker has a wide range of powers: presiding over meetings, requiring attendees to observe order, inviting state guests, and having management rights over the building where the state parliament is located. In addition, the state speaker also has personnel authority over the executive branch of the state assembly.

Rausch is seen as a long-time companion of the AfD's chief campaigner Ulrich Siegmund. Rausch was one of the AfD politicians accused of nepotism earlier this year. Several of Rausch's siblings were employed by a federal lawmaker for a time. Rausch said he had no involvement in the employment matters.

German television reported that the election of the governor of Saxony-Anhalt was not on the agenda at the first meeting of the state parliament. Sigmund, the winner of the Alternative Party, previously announced that he would run for office in December. He said that the necessary majority can be obtained, although no other party is willing to form a coalition with the party. The current CDU governor Sven Schulze will remain in office until new elections are completed.

On September 6 this year, the Alternative for Saxony won the state parliamentary election in Saxony-Anhalt with 43.8% of the vote, but did not obtain an absolute majority. Germany's constitutional protection agency has labeled the AfD of Saxony-Anhalt a confirmed right-wing extremist.