Politics

First AfD State Parliament President Elected in Sachsen-Anhalt

Tobias Rausch from the AfD has been elected as Germany's first state parliament president, with support from BSW representatives.

6 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: First AfD State Parliament President Elected in Sachsen-Anhalt — Archive photoPhoto: Steffen Prößdorf · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tobias Rausch, a member of the AfD, has been elected the new president of the Sachsen-Anhalt state parliament. In the secret ballot, he received 48 votes out of a total of 82 cast, while 29 members voted against him and five abstained. This gives Rausch four more votes than the total number of seats held by his party and the partner party BSW combined.

The election of Tobias Rausch marks a historic moment, as he is the first AfD politician to hold this office in a German state parliament. BSW announced its support for Rausch in the election, which apparently led to an incursion into votes from members of other parties.

According to reports, Rausch, who has been a member of the AfD since 2013, maintains good relations with other party members and brings parliamentary experience. However, there have also been allegations against him related to nepotism.

The first constitutive session of the state parliament in Magdeburg took place under these circumstances, with Rausch's election at the center of attention. The support from BSW was crucial for the outcome of the vote.

According to a report from Der Tagesspiegel, AfD co-founder Sahra Wagenknecht defended Rausch's nomination. It is believed that the cooperation between the AfD and BSW significantly contributed to the election.

The announced collaboration between these two parties could have future implications for the political landscape in Sachsen-Anhalt, as Rausch's election is considered a significant step in the parliament's history.

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