Dispute over the post of state parliament president in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

The parliamentary group leaders of the SPD, the Left and the Greens in the state parliament of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are demanding that the AfD adhere to parliamentary customs. This includes “first and foremost respect for one’s political counterpart, respect for our constitutional order and behavior that corresponds to the dignity of parliament,” says a letter from Julian Barlen (SPD), Hennis Herbst (Left) and the acting chair of the Green parliamentary group, Claudia Müller, to AfD parliamentary group leader Enrico Schult.

Dispute over the office of state parliament president

The background is a dispute over filling the presidential position in the new state parliament. Schult had used this for his AfD, which emerged as the strongest force in last Sunday's election, and in turn called on the SPD, the Left and the Greens in a letter to adhere to parliamentary customs.

In the letter, Schult stated “that democracy is a two-way street,” the reply states. “We have always agreed to these standards. However, they apply to everyone and therefore also to you and your group.”

SPD parliamentary group leader demands an apology for the choice of words

Barlen accused Schult of having spoken of “troops” regarding the AfD faction that would “invade” the state parliament and make the others “tremble.” “Anyone who then demands parliamentary respect should first explain how the two should fit together and apologize for this choice of words,” said Barlen.

Herbst called on Schult to clearly distance himself from right-wing extremist positions. There are also several members of the parliamentary group with connections “to the former Junge Alternative, to the former “wing”, to the Identitarian Movement or to ethnic-nationalist fraternities”.

Against collaboration with AfD

Parliamentary customs give rise to neither a right to cooperation nor a right to the votes of other MPs, said Müller. “Anyone who wants to take on a prominent position in the state parliament needs a democratic majority.”

The parliamentary rights of each faction would of course be protected, the parliamentary group leaders of the SPD, Left and Greens jointly stated. “This does not result in any collaboration with the AfD. For the time being, the AfD's demands for mutual respect and parliamentary customs are in obvious contradiction to the demeanor and personnel of their own parliamentary group.

The AfD won the state election with 38.2 percent - ahead of the SPD with 35.5 percent of the vote. Because the right-wing populists lack partners for a coalition, Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) will probably be able to form an alliance with the Left and the Greens and continue to govern.