For the first time, the AfD is the strongest faction in a state parliament. It wants to exploit this position in the election of a Thuringian state parliament president. But it is keeping one door open.
One day before the first session of the Thuringian state parliament, the AfD, as the strongest faction, is insisting on its right to propose a new president for the election of the state parliament. However, its parliamentary manager Torben Braga did not rule out a compromise offer from the AfD. For the first time, the AfD is the strongest faction in a state parliament in Thuringia.
He is pragmatic enough that an AfD presidential candidate will not find a majority in the Thuringian parliament, said Braga in Erfurt. However, he is optimistic “that a solution will be found.” “There are ways to reach compromises.” Braga left open what these might look like. However, he did not rule out that the AfD could accept a position as vice president of the state parliament as part of a compromise.
Braga ruled out that the parliamentary group would nominate new members of its faction if the AfD were unsuccessful in the presidential election. “The AfD does not intend to nominate all of its members for election.”
Decision by the Constitutional Court if necessary
Representatives of the CDU, BSW, Left and SPD factions again declared that they would not elect an AfD candidate for the office of President of the State Parliament. According to the current rules of procedure, the AfD, as the largest faction with 32 members, has the right to propose candidates for the office, without which the parliament cannot function.
The four other factions want to achieve a change in the rules of procedure at the beginning of the session, according to which the President of the State Parliament is elected from the middle of the parliament and thus all factions can make personnel suggestions. The AfD rejects this. Braga announced that if there is any doubt, his faction will appeal to the State Constitutional Court to clarify the different legal positions.
Source: Stern
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