anti-immigration party wins speakership of German state legislature in historic first | Eastern NC Now

Germany's anti-immigration populist nationalist party, the Alternativ fur Deutschland (AfD) has achieved a historic first as it won the speakership of a German state legislature for the first time.  The victory came in Saxony-Anhalt, where the party finished a strong first place in the recent election, but just short of a majority of seats.  The AfD's Tobias Rauch was elected speaker of the state Landtag (legislature).

The majority was achieved in an unforeseen way,  While the AfD has been negotiating with the anti-immigration populist left BSW on forming a government, it was not BSW votes that took Rauch over the finish line.  Four members of the center-right Christian Democrats broke ranks to give Rauch his majority.

Moreover, Rauch says the same four Christian Democrats have indicated that if necessary they would again break ranks to elect an AfD minister president (governor) and cabinet if negotiations with the BSW do not succeed.  While the AfD and BSW are in strong agreement on immigration and energy policies (opposition to EU climate policies) and some other matters, there are others on which they are far apart.

CDU leader and federal chancellor Friedrich Merz has demanded a firewall against anyone working with the AfD, but there is growing opposition within the party to that policy.  German polls, show a majority of voters oppose this firewall, including a majority of Christian Democrat voters.

The AfD advocates for mass re-migration (deportation) of illegal aliens from Germany, as does the BSW.

https://rmx.news/article/germany-after-afd-politician-wins-state-speaker-position-in-historic-vote-he-confirms-he-won-with-the-help-of-the-cdu/

Meanwhile in Germany's largest state by population, North Rhein-Westphalia, which votes next, early next year, in Germany's series of state elections, the latest poll there shows the AfD has pulled into first place, with the Christian Democrats, who have governed the state for years, falling into second place.

Nationally, polls are showing that the AfD has expanded its lead to double digits, with the Christian Democrats trailing in second place.