Constituent state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt: new distribution of seats and sharp criticism from Eva von Angern

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

Mathis Gann

Calm atmosphere in Parliament

The discussion about the agenda is representative of how the AfD parliamentary group has acted in the state parliament so far: the MPs are staying calm, voting together with the other parliamentary groups for the agenda and rules of procedure, and the parliamentary group leadership is willing to talk and compromise.

It remains to be seen whether the overall cautious and constructive atmosphere in parliament will continue with agenda items eight and ten - the elections of the state parliament president and his deputies.

Cornelius Pollmer

The streamers are coming

With this constitutive session of the state parliament, a phenomenon that had already shaped the election campaign in Saxony-Anhalt also moved into the state parliament: the streamers. In the weeks before the election, they accompanied many AfD events in hour-long live streams. The relationship between the AfD and individual actors was repeatedly the subject of discussions, also because journalists were repeatedly harassed at events.

On Tuesday morning you can see streamers in tow with Ulrich Siegmund on the cathedral square in front of the state parliament, and later a team from “Utopia TV” sets up in the state parliament canteen. During the senior president's speech, there is an exchange with viewers of the stream. “Don’t give up hope” and “I’m sure there will be a positive change,” says a streamer to the followers; The word spoken in the state parliament is only listened to in passing.

Fabian Albrecht

44 seats for the majority – how many will Rausch get?

The new state parliament has 83 seats, so the absolute majority is 44 votes, the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional change is 56. The AfD parliamentary group occupies 39 seats. The CDU parliamentary group only has 15 seats, the Left, SPD and Greens each have eight representatives and the BSW has five.

It is eagerly awaited to see whether the AfD candidate for the post of parliamentary speaker will receive more votes than the 39 in his parliamentary group and the five from the BSW, which had announced its support.

Yannick von Eisenhart

Discussion about AfD motion to change the rules of procedure

Contrary to the previous rules of procedure, the AfD wants to appoint a vice-president in addition to the state parliament president. There is currently a discussion about how to deal with a corresponding request to change the rules of procedure, which had been announced in advance. It had been planned in advance that the Council of Elders would meet with representatives from all factions during the break and discuss possible changes to the rules of procedure.

Following discussions with the group leaders, Eva von Angern announced that it had been agreed to keep the agenda as planned. The MPs agree.

Mathis Gann

82 of 83 MPs are present

The state parliament has a quorum; Of the 83 representatives elected to the state parliament, 82 are present at the constituent meeting.

In the new state parliament, the parliamentary groups are represented as follows: the AfD with 39 members, the CDU with 15, the SPD, the Greens and the Left with eight each and the BSW with five members.

One representative is missing from the constituent meeting. Ronny Hartman/Reuters

Mathis Gann

Constitution of the state parliament begins

After the opening speech by the seniority president, the formal constitution of the state parliament now follows. First, the provisional board of directors is formed, then the quorum of the state parliament is determined. For this purpose, all MPs are called individually by name.

All procedural steps so far have been carried out without any disruptions or other incidents.

Jan Woitas/dpa

Yannick von Eisenhart

“Parliamentary culture has suffered significantly”

Von Angern says that parliamentary culture has “suffered significantly” since the AfD entered the state parliament in 2016. It may be that this is also due to the increase in conflicts in society and their escalation. »But it is precisely then that our responsibility for dealing with one another increases.«

She rejects the fact that political competitors are dehumanized in the political debate culture. “Sad examples of this can be found in the state parliament minutes of the last electoral term.”

At the end of her speech she quotes the Basic Law. “Human dignity is inviolable.” This applies regardless of gender, origin or sexual orientation.

"We are girls and women who love boys and men or girls and women or none of those things. We are boys and men who love girls and women. Or boys and men. Or none of those things.

We are people who have children and care about their future prospects. Or we consciously decided to be happy without children, or remain childless against our wishes.”

Eva von Angern

Eva von Angern. dts/imago images

She also talks about refugees who find refuge in Saxony-Anhalt or people who immigrated for other reasons. “We are all Saxony-Anhalt.” With great power comes great responsibility. With that she ends her speech.

Mathis Gann

State Constitutional Court should review AfD policy

Eva von Angern is in favor of having certain decisions of the majority reviewed by the State Constitutional Court in the interest of protecting minorities. "Let us respect and respect the State Constitutional Court for what it is: the guardian of our constitution."

Eva von Angern. Ronny Hartmann/AFP/Getty Images

Isabella Daniel

Fact check: Tourist trips to Magdeburg are canceled because of the AfD

According to the president of the state parliament, Eva von Angern, the election of the AfD as the strongest force in Saxony-Anhalt is having an impact on tourism in the state: “Tourist trips to Magdeburg are being canceled,” says the left-wing politician.

In fact, reports from the tourism industry show that people have changed their travel plans following the September 6 election. The president of the Dehoga hospitality association, Michael Schmidt, told the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung in mid-September: "There are at least colleagues from the association who report short-term cancellations." The managing director of the Saxony-Anhalt Tourism Association, Martin Schulze, also reported uncertainty among potential guests and employees in the industry a few days after the election. He shared: “Tourism thrives on hospitality, diversity and cosmopolitanism.”

However, cancellations on a larger scale have not yet been proven. In the Harz region, which is important for tourism in Saxony-Anhalt, there was no wave of cancellations until mid-September, as Wernigerode Tourismus GmbH, the city of Wernigerode and the Harz district jointly announced on September 17th. »We received occasional feedback from guests after the state elections. Specifically, we are talking about around 10 to 15 emails in which people express their concerns and ask whether they would like to travel to Saxony-Anhalt or the Harz in the future," said the managing director of Wernigerode Tourismus GmbH, Andreas Meling, at the time.

Mathis Gann

Von Angern criticizes AfD behavior in the Council of Elders

Now Eva von Angern criticizes the AfD in her speech. The party clearly won the election, says von Angern. Now she wants to take political responsibility for the country. Addressing Ulrich Siegmund, von Angern says:

»The deliberations in the Council of Elders have already shown that you and your group have arrived in the state parliament and in everyday life. Intoxicated with power, twelve committee seats were demanded in the first meeting instead of the constitutionally required eleven. Drunk with power, they wanted to banish the Alliance Greens and the SPD factions from the main building against their will. To put it kindly: That wasn't a good start to your new political responsibility."

Von Angern also addressed her criticism to the BSW. The seniority president says she was surprised that the BSW, as a “completely new faction in the state parliament,” was involved in “impairing the rights of established factions.”

Ulrich Siegmund (center), who wants to be elected Prime Minister in mid-December, in the Magdeburg state parliament. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Mariya Martiyenko

Magdeburg

Demonstrators call for a “constitutive meeting of civil society.”

While the state parliament session begins in the plenary hall, the organizers of the rally on Cathedral Square are calling for people to talk to each other. They call this a “constitutive meeting of civil society.”

People sit in groups on the ground in the sun. In one group, an older woman says she ended a friendship with someone because they were too different politically. Another says how much the election results still shock her.

People sit down in small groups for the “constitutive meeting of civil society”. Mariya Martiyenko / DIE TIME

Mathis Gann

The consequences of the state elections are noticeable in the country

The new government in Saxony-Anhalt has not yet been formed, says Eva von Angern - but the effects of the announced state policy are already noticeable: »The first applicants for the teaching profession are dropping out. Booked tourist trips to Magdeburg will be canceled. Neighboring countries are recruiting our staff. And members of the federal government are publicly considering whether Saxony-Anhalt can continue to receive funding - for example in education - if federal standards are no longer adhered to.

The Basic Law and federal laws apply throughout Germany, says von Angern. At the same time, she warns against punishing voters from Saxony-Anhalt for their voting behavior. This is neither Christian, social, solidarity nor constitutionally responsible.

Read here how the people in Saxony-Anhalt voted at the beginning of September:

Yannick von Eisenhart

Von Angern cites the Constitution's "antifa clause" and Spiderman's uncle

Saxony-Anhalt has “a very clever state constitution,” says von Angern. This obliges us to prevent history from being forgotten. Von Angern criticizes the AfD and CDU for jointly deciding in the Heidenau city council not to lay 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."

One of her sons gave her something for her speech, says von Angern. It should remind you of a sentence from Uncle Ben from Spiderman. “With great power comes great responsibility.” For her, this sentence means that people with special abilities, resources and privileges have a moral duty to use these for the benefit of others.

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."

Eva von Angern opens the session of the Magdeburg state parliament. Jan Woitas/dpa

Yannick von Eisenhart

Eva von Angern opens the meeting

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