The AfD party in Saxony-Anhalt has put forward its deputy, Tobias Rausch, for election as the Speaker of the State Parliament. The 35-year-old was nominated by the parliamentary group on Tuesday. Should he be chosen, he would become the first politician from the AfD to lead a German state parliament. The new parliament is set to convene its inaugural session on October 6th.
The election for the Speaker requires a simple majority of the valid votes cast, a prospect deemed fairly certain since the BSW has announced its support for the AfD candidate.
However, strong criticism has emerged from the opposition regarding the nomination. Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz, the leader of the Green parliamentary group, told Spiegel that the key issue would be whether Tobias Rausch is willing to exercise the office impartially, ensuring the rights of all parliamentary groups equally, and separating his personal party interests from the demands of the post-something she expressed doubt about.
Eva von Angern, leader of the Left parliamentary group, who will open and manage the session where Rausch is to be elected as the oldest member, offered even sharper commentary in Spiegel. She stated that the last president of a parliament belonging to a right-wing extremist party was Herrmann Göring, warning that history teaches us such a member should never hold such a position again.
Von Angern flatly denounced Rausch as unsuitable, accusing him of standing for nepotism and a self-serving mentality, claiming he belongs to the radical faction of the AfD. She alleged that in the past, his sole focus has been enriching himself. She concluded that this kind of behavior disqualifies him from the function of representing the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
