AfD politician elected parliamentary speaker in Saxony-Anhalt

Tobias Raus of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been elected speaker of the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt, marking the first time a representative from the party has secured such a position in a German state assembly. The election took place on October 6, 2026, during the inaugural session of the legislature following the September elections.

Raus secured the position in the first round of voting with 48 votes in favor and 29 against. While the AfD holds 39 seats in the assembly—short of the 42 required for an absolute majority—his victory was made possible by the support of the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), which holds five seats. Other parties, including the SPD, the Greens, and The Left, voted against the candidacy, while the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) abstained from the secret ballot.

The AfD, which the German domestic intelligence agency has classified as an extremist organization, achieved a record result of nearly 44% in the September 6 elections. Raus intends to retain his role as secretary-general of the party’s regional branch, an unconventional move for a parliamentary speaker. The position carries significant institutional and symbolic weight in the legislative process.