Handelsblatt1 hour agoPolitics1 min readGermany

AfD politician Siegmund breaks election promises in Saxony-Anhalt

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Ulrich Siegmund from the AfD promised before the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt that he would only govern if his party achieved an absolute majority.
After the election, in which the AfD won 39 of 83 seats, narrowly missing the majority, he began to soften his promise and is now aiming to form a government with other parties.

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Why It Matters

Before the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund from the AfD emphasized that his party would only govern if it achieved an absolute majority in order not to get involved in the unreliability of other parties.

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In the future, the AfD can avoid one of its favorite accusations against its competitors: politicians promise one thing before elections and then do another. In Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund is currently demonstrating how quickly an election promise evaporates when a premiership suddenly comes within reach.

Before the state elections, Siegmund spread a completely different message. He only wants to govern if the AfD alone wins an absolute majority. He didn't want to get involved in the unreliability of the other parties. That's why, says Siegmund, the AfD has to do it alone. She almost made it.

Siegmund achieved a brilliant victory in the state elections at the beginning of September. However, he missed the absolute majority. The AfD won 39 of the 83 seats. For the majority it takes 42.

Just a few days after the election, he began to soften his promise: “Of course we will govern with one more vote.” The AfD began discussions with other MPs, including the BSW. Now Siegmund wants to be elected Prime Minister in December. He left it open how this would succeed.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

The AfD will begin coalition negotiations with other parties to form a government.
Likely · Within weeks

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