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🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

After AfD election victory, Schweitzer backs expert government in Saxony-Anhalt

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Ongoing story
  • SPD deputy leader Alexander Schweitzer backed an expert government supported by all other factions as a way to prevent an AfD state premier in Saxony-Anhalt.
  • He said the election result had shocked politicians but should not lead to paralysis.
  • The proposal follows the AfD’s strong showing under lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund, while the BSW and SPD candidate Armin Willingmann have also expressed openness to alternatives.

Alexander Schweitzer, deputy leader of Germany’s Social Democratic Party, has backed the idea of an expert government in Saxony-Anhalt after the AfD’s strong election result.

“The election result in Saxony-Anhalt shocked us all, but it must not cause us to freeze in shock,” Schweitzer told the Rheinpfalz. He said an expert government supported by all the other parliamentary factions could still prevent an AfD minister-president from taking office.

The election result in Saxony-Anhalt shocked us all, but it must not cause us to freeze in shock.

· Alexander SchweitzerSchweitzer argued that the election result should prompt political action rather than paralysis.

The proposal emerged after the election, in which AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund secured a clear victory. The BSW had suggested a nonpartisan minister-president, and SPD lead candidate Armin Willingmann has also recently indicated that he was open to the idea.

Schweitzer, who also chairs the SPD parliamentary group in Rhineland-Palatinate, said the party could not stand by while a far-right politician took over as head of a German state government. He said the option should not be ruled out and could, if necessary, be actively advanced.

We as the SPD must not stand by while a far-right extremist takes over the office of minister-president in a German state.

· Alexander SchweitzerHe explained why he supports keeping an expert government on the table.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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