Thuringia: How the AfD demonstrated to the state parliament – Höcke’s helpers

analysis

So it happened again: Björn Höcke’s AfD presented the Thuringian parliament.

The parallels between September 26, 2024 and February 5, 2020, when the AfD installed an FDP prime minister in office, are obvious. While back then the Höcke faction operated with a fake candidate and deceived parliament in a secret vote, this time they took advantage of the fact that they happened to be the senior president.

However, this time the AfD had a legal advantage. According to the current rules of procedure, the largest parliamentary group has the sole right to propose the President of the State Parliament. This rule, whether written or not, has always been observed in all German parliaments.

However, the right to nominate expressly does not result in a right to the office. In addition, the large majority of parliament, which consists of all other parliamentary groups, unanimously declared that they would not elect an AfD president. And the following applies: MPs are free and only obliged to their conscience.

But of course it is more complicated. In order to secure the election of the alternative CDU candidate, the CDU and BSW, with the consent of the Left and SPD, submitted a motion to remove the largest parliamentary group’s exclusive right to make proposals from the rules of procedure before the election of the state parliament president. They answered the legitimate question of whether a state parliament that has not yet been constituted can change the rules of procedure with a clear yes.

The AfD, on the other hand, just as unequivocally said no – and unleashed all of its destructive energy. Their apparent goal: to create the greatest possible collateral damage to the other parties and to strengthen their own victim narrative.

Thuringian AfD: Höcke’s efficient helper

The Höcke faction had an efficient tool for this: its new faction member Jürgen Treutler. At 73, the representative from the AfD district town of Sonneberg is the oldest member of the state parliament and is therefore automatically its senior president. It is his responsibility to lead the constitution of the parliament – and thus also the election of the state parliament president.

The AfD had prepared Treutler well and provided him with speech texts. The MP first gave a propaganda speech in which he spoke of the political elite’s contempt for the will of the people. He then gave a lengthy lecture about the fact that the largest faction is entitled to the position of President of the State Parliament and that the rules of procedure should not be changed before his election.

The state parliament in Thuringia: maximum damage

As he talked and talked, the MPs tried in vain to stop him and move the motion to change the rules of procedure. Treutler either ignored this or repeatedly interrupted the meeting. There were loud verbal battles, and at times there seemed to be something like parliamentary anarchy.

Finally, after some back and forth, things happened as they had to: the CDU parliamentary group appealed to the state constitutional court to clarify the question of rules of procedure. It will continue on Saturday at 9.30 a.m. in the plenary hall in Erfurt. Until then, the 8th Thuringian State Parliament will remain what it is: not constituted.

And maximally damaged.