The CDU parliamentary group wants to leave the hall before the election of AfD politician Ulrich Siegmund

It had already been indicated that when the AfD politician Ulrich Siegmund stands for election as Prime Minister in Saxony-Anhalt in December, the CDU parliamentary group will not be there. The MPs will leave the hall, said parliamentary group leader Sven Schulze in Magdeburg after a group meeting that lasted a good three hours. “The group has agreed that they want to do this.”

The parliamentary group leadership had suggested the approach to the 15 MPs. 14 voted in favor, the former parliamentary group leader Guido Heuer wanted to seek legal advice again with a view to further elections and abstained, said Schulze.

The vote for the AfD state parliament president is still breathing down the CDU's neck: When he was elected a week ago, Tobias Rausch (AfD) not only received votes from the AfD and BSW, but also at least four votes from other ranks in the secret vote. There has been repeated speculation that it could have been votes from the CDU, which, according to Schulze, recommended abstention. In total, there were only five abstentions in the secret election.

Schulze: The faction has “moved back together quite a bit”

“I now have the feeling that the group has really come together again after today’s discussion,” said Schulze. “They were very, very factual contributions.” All MPs spoke up, some of them several times. “The majority of MPs said one thing again and again today: It is now the past that must be overcome and that we look forward.”

As the strongest opposition force, we face major tasks and must work together. “Together means all 15 together.” “I can really say, that is my impression, that we have slipped a little further together and that some of the ditches are now slowly being filled up again.”