DistantNews
Support us
🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

After Saxony-Anhalt election, BSW would help AfD leader become state premier

From Die Zeit · () German

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

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The BSW in Saxony-Anhalt reaffirmed that it would abstain in a third state parliamentary ballot, potentially allowing AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund to become minister-president.
  • BSW leader Thomas Schulze said his party would not participate in a political firewall against the AfD and would speak with all parties.
  • The BSW won 5.3% of the state election vote, while Schulze said the AfD's support from 44% of voters had to be acknowledged.

The BSW in Saxony-Anhalt has reaffirmed that it would help clear the way for an AfD politician to become state premier by abstaining in a third parliamentary ballot.

If AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund stands for election, BSW state leader Thomas Schulze said his party would maintain its position and abstain. The BSW won 5.3% in the state election.

We do not want to participate in firewall politics.

· Thomas SchulzeThe BSW leader explained why his party would not join efforts to exclude the AfD from political negotiations.

The party had always said it would not take part in a political firewall against the AfD, Schulze told Deutschlandfunk. "We do not want to participate in firewall politics," he said, adding that the BSW wanted to speak with all parties.

The other parties are the ones who should be accused of being a stepping stone.

· Thomas SchulzeHe rejected the charge that the BSW would help the AfD take power.

Schulze rejected the accusation that the BSW would act as a political enabler for the AfD. "The other parties are the ones who should be accused of being a stepping stone," he said. "I see the AfD as a party that was voted for by 44 percent of the people here. And I have to take that into account. For me, that is democracy."

He said the BSW and AfD shared positions on issues including lifting sanctions against Russia. The possible abstention could therefore become decisive in the parliamentary vote for state premier.

I see the AfD as a party that was voted for by 44 percent of the people here. And I have to take that into account. For me, that is democracy.

· Thomas SchulzeSchulze justified his party's position by pointing to the AfD's election support.
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.

More Stories

From Our Blog