The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has secured the speaker's role in Saxony-Anhalt's state parliament, with Tobias Rausch becoming Germany's first far-right regional speaker since the second world war.
Key facts
- Tobias Rausch was elected president of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament on Tuesday.
- He is Germany's first far-right speaker of a regional parliament since the second world war.
- Rausch won 48 out of the 82 votes cast, securing the role in the first round.
- Rausch, a member of the AfD, is a former estate agent.
- The election follows the AfD's electoral breakthrough in the state.
The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has become Germany’s first far-right party to secure the position of speaker of a regional parliament since the second world war, according to the Guardian.
Tobias Rausch, a former estate agent, was elected to the role in Saxony-Anhalt on Tuesday. He secured the position in the first round of voting, the Guardian reported.
Rausch won 48 out of the 82 votes cast, giving him a clear majority in the regional parliament.
The appointment follows what the Guardian described as the AfD’s election breakthrough in the state, marking a significant milestone in the party’s rise.
The role of parliamentary president, or speaker, carries responsibility for presiding over the chamber’s proceedings. Rausch’s election represents a historic first for a far-right party at the regional level in postwar Germany.
Why it matters
The election of a far-right speaker in a German state parliament marks a symbolic milestone, as it is the first such role held by a far-right party since the second world war. It reflects the growing electoral strength of the AfD and raises questions about the party's expanding influence in German politics.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Tobias Rausch?
Tobias Rausch is a member of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and a former estate agent who was elected president of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament.
How many votes did Rausch receive?
Rausch won 48 out of the 82 votes cast, securing the role in the first round of voting on Tuesday.
Why is this election historically significant?
According to the Guardian, it makes the AfD the first far-right party to secure the position of speaker of a regional parliament in Germany since the second world war.