No government? AfD leader in Saxony-Anhalt does not rule out new elections

“IT IS a scenario that we do not reject, because it would be the result of a situation in which no one else is willing to take responsibility for governing with us”, Ulrich Siegmund said at a press conference in Magdeburg, after the formation of the parliamentary group of the AfD, composed of 39 Members after the election victory last Sunday, to three members of the absolute majority in the regional parliament.

Siegmund stressed that the vote of the citizens of that state of eastern Germany — who attributed to AfD its best result so far in regional elections, 43.8 % — was clear, so the repetition of the elections would not worry the party very much.

“ Certainly the citizens would show what they think of the fact that no one is willing to rule with us,” he said, suggesting that the AfD could even improve its outcome in the polls, because voters would say “now you will see” to the other political formations, who want to prevent them from governing despite being the most voted party.

At the same press conference, Ulrich Siegmund indicated that the AfD is holding talks with “other parliamentary groups”, referring to the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – Reason and Justice (BSW), the left-wing populist party, the only force that did not reject negotiating with the far-right party, as well as with individual Members, in the hope, in this latter case, to raise the support of some dissidents.

Ulrich Siegmund, who was elected spokesman of the parliamentary group today, acknowledged that the goal is to raise as many support as possible.

The party leader rejected, however, the BSW's proposal that its five elected deputies refrain to allow a minority government of the AfD if an independent figure is appointed as regional prime minister.

Siegmund stressed that he would not give up leading the executive, as almost 44% of voters in Saxony-Anhalt voted in that scenario.

The Constitution of Saxony-Anhalt does not set a deadline for the election of a new regional prime minister. Therefore, the outgoing regional Prime Minister, Christian Democrat Sven Schulze (CDU, political force of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz), may remain in office as long as necessary. The call for new elections would require a two-thirds majority in the regional parliament.

A group of German civil society organizations today called for demonstrations for the next Saturday and Sunday in protest against AfD in 12 cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, the most populous in Germany.

“For the streets against AfD on 12 and 13 September”, published on social networks the initiative called “It’s time to act”.

The AfD, a party guarded by German secret services under a classification of suspected right-wing extremism organization, currently leads the voting intentions in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, another German federal state that votes on September 20.

It also appears among the main parties in the election run in Berlin, which has elections also on 20 September.