Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the election of Alternative for Germany lawmaker Tobias Rausch as speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, calling it a “dangerous breach of Germany’s democratic firewall” during a Berlin business forum on Wednesday. Rausch secured 48 of 82 votes in a secret ballot on Tuesday, nine more than the AfD’s 39 seats, fueling speculation that some CDU lawmakers backed him despite the party’s long-standing policy of no cooperation with the far-right group .
Merz warned that “anyone who casts their vote for the AfD is playing the extremists’ game and destroying credibility,” while cautioning against hasty conclusions, suggesting non-CDU lawmakers may have supported Rausch to sow division . The CDU’s labor wing leader, Dennis Radtke, demanded expulsion proceedings against any CDU members found to have voted for Rausch, stating, “Whoever helps right-wing extremists into political responsibility must face consequences” .
SPD parliamentary manager Dirk Wiese echoed the call for accountability, saying cooperation with the AfD in parliament “cannot be tolerated.” Left Party faction leader Sören Pellmann accused the CDU of evading responsibility, urging Merz to “close ranks” within his party . The BSW had publicly declared support for Rausch ahead of the vote.
