SPD’s Schweitzer backs expert government in Saxony-Anhalt

Alexander Schweitzer, a deputy federal chairman of Germany’s Social Democrats, says Saxony-Anhalt should not rule out an expert government as a way to prevent an AfD premier. “An expert government supported by all the other parliamentary groups could still prevent the scenario of an AfD premier,” he told Rheinpfalz.

“

An expert government supported by all the other parliamentary groups could still prevent the scenario of an AfD premier.

Schweitzer, who also leads the SPD parliamentary group in Rhineland-Palatinate, said the election result must not produce political paralysis. “We in the SPD must not stand by and watch a far-right extremist take over as premier of a German state,” he said. He argued that the possibility of an expert government should remain open and, if necessary, be actively promoted.

The proposal followed the election in Saxony-Anhalt and the clear victory of AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund. The BSW had already proposed a cross-party premier, while SPD lead candidate Armin Willingmann said he was also open to the idea. Willingmann said it was “not the first choice,” but that it should not be rejected in advance if it could break a political deadlock.

“

We in the SPD must not stand by and watch a far-right extremist take over as premier of a German state.

BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht defended the idea before the election. She said that if the other parties ruled it out, the BSW would abstain in the third round of the state parliament’s premier vote. In that round, a simple majority of votes cast is sufficient. The BSW won just over 5% of the state vote, giving it potential influence over majorities after the AfD won 43.8%. Wagenknecht ruled out a coalition with the AfD before the election but left open cooperation on individual issues.

“

Not the first choice.