Tobias Rausch: SPD faction protests in Berlin against AfD state parliament president

After the election of AfD politician Tobias Rausch as President of the State Parliament of Saxony-Anhalt, the SPD parliamentary group gathered in Berlin for a spontaneous protest. The members of parliament walked together from the Bundestag through the Brandenburg Gate to Bebelplatz - the place where the National Socialists burned books a few months after they came to power in 1933. Several MPs carried the Basic Law in their hands.

During a speech at the rally, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius spoke of a "breaking of the taboo of parliamentary democracy" in that "Democrats have served as stirrups for right-wing extremists and fascists." He was referring to the fact that several MPs who belong to neither the AfD nor the BSW voted for Rausch. In view of this, one cannot “go back to business as usual.”

Pistorius sings the national anthem on Bebelplatz

It was “a day of anger,” Pistorius continued. "And I'll say it very clearly: Anyone who allowed this to happen has violated the democracy of our great country." Referring to the location of the SPD rally, the Defense Minister said: "This is where the cultural and epochal break continued. First books burned, later people burned. We know exactly what fascism can do in this country. After his speech, Pistorius sang the national anthem, which was sung by many other participants in the demonstration.

“This is not a normal day,” said SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch. The SPD feels the duty to show its colors when democracy is under pressure. For the first time since the founding of the Federal Republic, right-wing extremists were elected to a state parliament presidency. “This must alarm us all,” said Miersch.

Several CDU MPs may have voted for AfD candidates

The AfD politician Rausch was elected president of the state parliament in Magdeburg in a secret vote with 48 votes. He received four more votes than the AfD and BSW have seats in the state parliament combined. The BSW had previously announced that it would vote for the AfD candidate.

According to information from ZEIT from AfD circles, several CDU MPs may have voted for Rausch as part of an agreement with the AfD. In return, the AfD promises to elect a CDU politician as state parliament vice-president. After Rausch's election, CDU MP Carsten Borchert was elected to office with 64 votes. He must have received numerous votes from the AfD parliamentary group.

This article will continue to be updated.