Tobias Rausch of the AfD has been elected speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, marking the first time a far-right party has held the post in Germany since World War Two.

Tobias Rausch, a 35-year-old member of the far-right AfD, was elected speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament on Tuesday. The appointment occurred during the inaugural session of the state's newly elected representatives, one month after the party's regional election performance. Rausch secured the position with the support of nine lawmakers from other parties, despite the AfD falling three seats short of a majority.

Parliamentary leadership and appointments

Following Rausch's election, lawmakers also appointed AfD politician Hans-Thomas Tillschneider as one of the chamber's deputy speakers. Tillschneider, 48, received 44 votes in favor and 38 against in a secret ballot. The chamber plans to elect a total of three deputy speakers. Ahead of the session, the AfD successfully argued to move its seating position from the right fringe of the parliament to the center.

Political reaction and controversy

The election has drawn criticism from other political factions, with regional Greens leader Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz describing the event as a watershed moment and stating that a line has been crossed. Protesters gathered outside the parliament building in Magdeburg with banners referencing post-war history. Rausch stated after the vote that the days of political firewalls against the party should end. The AfD is classified as right-wing extremist by domestic intelligence in Saxony-Anhalt, a designation the party rejects.

Background on AfD figures

Hans-Thomas Tillschneider is a long-standing member of the AfD and serves as the deputy chair of the party's parliamentary group in the state. He has previously been associated with the now-disbanded 'Flügel' and 'Patriotic Platform' groups and has maintained ties to anti-migrant protest movements. Tillschneider has also faced scrutiny for his public support of Russia, including a 2022 visit to the country and contributions to Russian media.