Dissolution of the state parliament: AfD wants the self-dissolution of the Thuringian state parliament

After two unsuccessful motions of no confidence against Prime Minister Mario Voigt (CDU) this year, the AfD parliamentary group is attempting to dissolve the Thuringian state parliament. A corresponding motion is to be discussed and voted on in a special session of Parliament today (12 p.m.). A two-thirds majority is required to dissolve the state parliament.

The AfD parliamentary group, headed by right winger Björn Höcke, has 32 of the 88 seats in the state parliament. Because the other factions are not seeking a dissolution of the state parliament and thus a new parliamentary election, the AfD's chances of success are slim.

Höcke had justified his group's request for parliamentary dissolution with the collapse of the BSW as Thuringia's governing party. The BSW faction has since dissolved. Ten of its former MPs form the Thuringia.Gerecht parliamentary group, which forms a minority government together with the CDU and SPD.

If the dissolution of the state parliament fails, Höcke has already announced the initiation of a referendum with the aim of new elections. The hurdles to implementing a referendum are also considered high: According to the state parliament, 5,000 eligible voters must give their signature within six weeks just for it to be approved.