Constituent session of the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt

Exactly one month after the election in Saxony-Anhalt, the new state parliament was formed in Magdeburg. The most important item on the agenda is the election of the President of Parliament and his deputies.

With Tobias Rausch, a member of the AfD election winner, which the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified as “certain right-wing extremist,” could become parliamentary speaker for the first time.

The new state parliament has 83 seats, 39 of which are occupied by the AfD parliamentary group. For the first time, this will not sit on the right but in the center of parliament.

The CDU parliamentary group only has 15 seats and will now sit on the far left in the plenary hall. To the right of the AfD parliamentary group are the eight MPs each from the Left, SPD and Greens, and on the far right is the BSW parliamentary group.

You can find all articles on the topic on our topic page about the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt.

In addition to our own research, we also use material from the news agencies AP, AFP, epd, dpa, KNA and Reuters.

State election 2026: Results of the election in Saxony-Anhalt

Distribution of votes: provisional result

77.8% voter turnout • As of: 3:27 a.m. •

Source: State Statistical Office

AfD

43.8% +23.0

'21 2026

CDU

17.2% −19.9

SPD

9.3% +0.9

Greens

8.9% +3.0

Left

8.6% −2.4

BSW

5.3% –

FDP

2.6% −3.8

Possible coalitions

Majority with 42 seats

AfD +BSW (toleration)

44 seats

AfD alone

39 seats

CDU + SPD + Greens + Left (toleration)

39 seats

CDU + SPD + Greens

31 seats

Constituencies

41 / 41 counted out

Yannick von Eisenhart

Von Angern cites the constitution’s “antifa clause”.

Saxony-Anhalt has “a very clever state constitution,” says von Angern. This obliges us to prevent history from being forgotten. She criticizes the AfD and CDU for jointly deciding in the Heidenau city council not to place any more stumbling blocks. Banishing stumbling blocks from public space “disposes of” history. “Let’s prevent this together in Saxony-Anhalt.”

Von Angern quotes from Article 37 of the state constitution, the “so-called antifa clause,” as she says. "Not allowing the revival and spread of National Socialist ideas, the glorification of the National Socialist system of rule, or racist and anti-Semitic activities is the obligation of all state authorities and the responsibility of every individual."

Mathis Gann

Von Angern is reminiscent of German dictatorships

The President of the State Parliament, Eva von Angern, also recalled the two German dictatorships in her opening speech. Courageous Social Democrats opposed the National Socialists in the Reichstag in 1933; communists were no longer part of the Reichstag at that point and many of them had already been deported to the first concentration camps. In this context, von Angern quotes the Social Democrat Otto Wels: "Freedom and life can be taken away from us, but not our honor."

The senior president then talks about the communist dictatorship in eastern Germany. This buried parliamentarism in Saxony-Anhalt. Von Angern warns:

"We all have a duty to deal responsibly with what we find, the good and the bad, the successful and the unsuccessful human works, and to be steadfast. That's what we were elected for."

Yannick von Eisenhart

The meeting begins

Eva von Angern from the Left Party opened the session as the longest-serving member of the state parliament. First she welcomes some guests of honor.

It is a special honor for her to be able to assume the office of senior president. The proportion of women in the new state parliament has fallen “to an alarmingly low” 21.7 percent. “Dear women, I’m sitting here at the front today on behalf of you and for you,” says von Angern.

She quotes former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), whom she “very much appreciates.” She said that she believes that in our time it is important to continually become aware of historical ties. It is important to know your roots. "Let's look at these common roots."

The state parliament in Magdeburg is constituted. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Mathis Gann

AfD politician Rausch does not rule out dissolving the state parliament in December

Before his possible election as state parliament president, AfD politician Tobias Rausch has not ruled out a new election in Saxony-Anhalt. With a view to the difficult formation of a government and the election of Ulrich Siegmund as Prime Minister in December, which the AfD is aiming for, Rausch told the broadcasters RTL and ntv: "If we don't have a majority in the first round of voting, we won't have a majority for the duration of the period either. Then parliament doesn't want us to govern." In that case, they will consider dissolving parliament.

Tobias Rausch in September 2026. Karina Hessland/Reuters

In today's constitutive session of the state parliament, the parliamentary presidency will be elected, but not the prime minister. AfD candidate Siegmund had announced that he would stand for election in December. In doing so, at least in the first two rounds of voting, he is dependent on not only the votes from his group but also other votes from at least one other party. According to its own statements, the AfD is currently looking for support in discussions with the BSW and with individual members of other parliamentary groups. No other party wants to form a coalition with her.

Mathis Gann

“There is only one person who can stop the AfD”

The left-wing politician Bodo Ramelow knows the AfD: As prime minister and state politician in Thuringia, he followed the rise and radicalization of the local association there. He is now Vice President of the Bundestag, where the AfD is the largest opposition party.

In an interview with my colleague Johannes Schneider, Ramelow talks about National Socialism, dealing with the AfD and today's state parliament session in Saxony-Anhalt.

Read the interview here:

Mathis Gann

AfD changes seating arrangement in the state parliament

Actually, as is tradition in Germany, the seating arrangement in parliaments in this country corresponds to the political left-right pattern. However, the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, which is classified as right-wing extremist, wants to break with this tradition - and in doing so probably spread its own narrative of being a centrist party. The party got the seating arrangement changed in the state parliament's senior council.

More on this topic:

Mariya Martiyenko

Magdeburg

The Green Party leader goes to parliament with a “stomach ache”.

Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz, the chairwoman of the Green Party in Saxony-Anhalt, has just read out Article 8 of the Basic Law, the one on freedom of assembly, at the demonstration in front of the state parliament building. "Today's constitutive meeting threatens to become a turning point," says the party leader. She will be a member of the state parliament from 11 a.m. »For the first time in a long time I have a stomach ache before a speech.«

Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz, chairwoman of the Green Party in Saxony-Anhalt, read out Article 8 of the Basic Law on Cathedral Square. Mariya Martiyenko / DIE TIME

Mathis Gann

Will he be the first AfD president of a German state parliament?

Today it will be all about him: Tobias Rausch. The AfD parliamentary group has nominated the 35-year-old as the future state parliament president - his election is the most important agenda item for today's meeting.

Rausch cannot be elected with the AfD's votes alone, but the BSW parliamentary group has already announced that it will support an AfD candidate for the office of state parliament president. This means that Rausch could get the necessary majority straight away and become the first AfD politician to be elected to the head of a German parliament.

Who is Tobias Rausch? Read the text here by my colleague Martin Nejezchleba, editor at ZEIT in the East:

Mariya Martiyenko

Magdeburg

Ulrich Siegmund faces the demonstrators

Loud whistles and boos echo across the cathedral square when AfD election winner Ulrich Siegmund appears in front of the state parliament. He is immediately surrounded by a crowd of journalists. “We’ll keep reading!” a speaker shouts into the microphone. “He has to hear this!” It’s about the reading from the Basic Law.

Siegmund calls on the demonstrators to talk; it is loud in front of the parliament building. “All state power comes from the people,” the demonstrators shout across the square.

Ulrich Siegmund came to the cathedral square. Mariya Martiyenko / DIE TIME

Fabian Albrecht

Anhaltiner in Maagdeburg

Parliament is essentially about talking. Anyone who wants to talk to people in Saxony-Anhalt as an outsider often makes revealing mistakes when addressing them and refers to them as Saxony-Anhalt residents. However, these are German breeding horses (warmbloods). Members of the noble family of Anhalt are called Anhaltiners. The state parliament, which is constituted today, was elected by Saxony-Anhalt residents.

The people of Magdeburg also attach great importance to the correct pronunciation of their city. Anyone who pronounces it with a long A will be interrupted and corrected at the end of the sentence at the latest. A short A after the M is the least people expect. If you want to be sure, Machdeburch says when he talks to Machdeburjers.

Yannick von Eisenhart

BDI chairwoman warns against AfD government

There are warnings from industry about a possible AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt. "An upswing would not be expected with an AfD government because trust in good framework conditions suffers," said the managing director of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Tanja Gönner, to the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. The AfD is not a business party, said the former CDU politician.

“If there is an AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt, then I would like for the people and the location that what already exists will at least be preserved,” said Gönner. “The question is: Who will invest in the large industrial areas in Saxony-Anhalt in the future?” Every investor needs skilled workers, often from abroad. "If these people don't feel welcome, that quickly becomes an argument against the location."

Tilman Steffen

Demonstrators distribute basic laws

The Magdeburg Solidarity Alliance distributed copies of the Basic Law on the Magdeburg Cathedral Square at the state parliament building. Together, around 300 demonstrators read out individual articles of the Basic Law in a chant in the morning sun. It's about human dignity and freedom and democracy. Their voices echo across the square.

“Grandmas against intoxication,” someone wrote on a sign. Tobias Rausch is the AfD representative who is to be elected President of Parliament in the state parliament today. The protest bus from the Center for Political Beauty also drove up.

Demonstrators read articles of the Basic Law together on Magdeburg Cathedral Square. Tilman STEFFEN/Die Zeit

Yannick von Eisenhart

Who will enter the state parliament for the AfD?

After the clear victory in the election, the AfD has by far the largest parliamentary group in the new state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt. The party has 39 MPs, 37 of whom are men. Some attracted attention with ethnic and racist statements. Two MPs are being investigated because they are said to have been involved in the continuation of a banned right-wing extremist association.

Here you can find short portraits of all AfD MPs:

Tilman Steffen

The SPD is already there

Armin Willingmann appears to be in a good mood, but is expecting not to be elected Vice President of the State Parliament here in Magdeburg today. He is Minister for Science and Environment in the current state government. And in particular, the majority from AfD and BSW in the state parliament are of the opinion that a minister should not be vice president of the state parliament at the same time.

Armin Willingmann on the way to the state parliament building. Tilman Steffen/Die Zeit

Fabian Albrecht

Magdeburg's finest address

In Germany, parliaments, like universities, are usually housed either in modest post-war buildings or in historicist representative buildings. The Magdeburg state parliament belongs to the second category. The Baroque ensemble originally consists of several palaces from the early 18th century, which were connected after German reunification and converted into the seat of parliament.

Opposite the country's most famous building, the more than 800-year-old cathedral, the state parliament has met in the middle of Ottostadt since 1991. On the west side of the parliament is another internationally known building, the Green Citadel by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and to the east of the state parliament there is a sculpture park leading to the banks of the Elbe.