Tobias Reich-Rausch won the state parliament presidency with 48 votes, exceeding the AfD's 39 seats in a secret ballot. Merz stated that anyone who backed the far-right candidate must reconcile that decision with their conscience, noting the identity of the voters remains unknown. The victory follows a month of political shifts in the state and precedes a bid in December to elect the first AfD state premier.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Chancellor Merz Seeks Coalition Deal After First AfD State Presidency
World13 days ago
Germany's government is grappling with internal instability after the Alternative for Germany party secured its first lead role in a regional legislature. Chancellor Friedrich Merz is attempting to forge a compromise to stabilize his coalition as his conservative party faces scrutiny over whether it provided the votes to help the AfD candidate win. Merz characterized the AfD and the BSW as authoritarian and extremist parties that, for the first time, earned a combined absolute majority in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.
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