CDU rules out backing AfD candidate
Sven Schulze says no CDU representative will help Ulrich Siegmund secure a majority.
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The CDU in Saxony-Anhalt will not help an AfD candidate in the election of a new Minister-President. CDU parliamentary group leader Sven Schulze says all party members have confirmed that position orally and in writing.
Schulze’s statement makes a direct appeal by the AfD for CDU votes impossible for the time being. The AfD became the largest party in Saxony-Anhalt four weeks ago, but failed to secure an absolute majority in the 83-seat parliament.
The party won 43.8 per cent of the vote and holds 39 seats. It needs three additional votes to form a government of its own. The CDU came second with 17.2 per cent and, according to the provisional seat allocation, has 15 seats.
Schulze said the CDU would become an opposition party and did not want to work directly with either the AfD or the BSW, the party that is holding talks with the AfD on policy cooperation. According to Schulze, constructive opposition means assessing legislative proposals individually, not making agreements in advance.
The new Landtag will meet on Tuesday for its first session. Among other things, a parliamentary president will be elected. The BSW has indicated that it wants to support an AfD candidate for the post. That does not automatically mean that the BSW will also support a government led by AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund.
Siegmund intends to stand as a candidate for the Minister-Presidency in December. He says he expects to receive substantial support in the first round of voting, but the other parliamentary groups have so far said they will not elect him. The outcome therefore depends on the BSW’s position and on any individual defections.
The situation matters nationally because Saxony-Anhalt could become the first federal state with an AfD-led government; the state’s branch has been classified by the state security service as confirmed far-right extremist. A failed attempt to form a government could also lead to a prolonged minority government or further political negotiations.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The AfD is the largest parliamentary group but has no majority.
- The CDU rules out supporting an AfD candidate.
- The BSW is holding talks with the AfD.
- The new Minister-President is due to be elected in December.
Left
Arguments The CDU must maintain the democratic firewall around a party classified as far-right extremist. From this perspective, government participation or confidence-and-supply support could lead to the normalisation of discriminatory policies and the weakening of institutions governed by the rule of law.
Values Protection of minorities, the democratic rule of law and institutional boundaries.
Consequences A difficult process of forming a government is preferable to policies that would give the AfD administrative legitimacy and access to state power.
Centre
Arguments The result must be respected, but forming a government should be based on transparent programme agreements and a stable majority. Parties must be able to assess individual proposals without promising a coalition in advance.
Values Governability, procedural care and responsibility towards voters.
Consequences A minority government or broad cooperation without the AfD could work, but would require clear agreements and predictable votes.
Right
Arguments The AfD is the largest party and should, from this perspective, be given the chance to take responsibility. Permanent exclusion by other parties can be seen as ignoring voters and fuelling anti-establishment politics.
Values The voters’ mandate, political competition and governmental responsibility.
Consequences If the AfD is not allowed to govern despite its election victory, this could further strengthen the party; participation, by contrast, would subject its policies to the realities of government.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key facts have been confirmed by Tagesschau and the official election information. The future formation of a government remains rightly described as uncertain.
- confirmed The AfD won 43.8 per cent and 39 of the 83 seats. — Confirmed by Tagesschau and the election information. source
- confirmed The AfD needs three additional votes for a majority. — Derived from holding 39 of 83 seats; a majority requires 42 seats. source
- confirmed Sven Schulze rules out CDU support for the AfD. — Schulze stated that no CDU member would defect to the AfD or support its candidate. source
- confirmed The BSW is negotiating with the AfD. — Tagesschau describes ongoing talks about policy cooperation. source
- confirmed Siegmund intends to stand as a candidate for the Minister-Presidency in December. — Mentioned in the current Tagesschau report. source
Editor's note
The election result, seat allocation and Schulze’s rejection of CDU support are certain. It remains uncertain whether the BSW will ultimately help Siegmund secure a majority.Sources
- Sachsen-Anhalt: Es wird keiner von der CDU zur AfD wechseln — Tagesschau
- FAQ zur Landtagswahl 2026 — Landeswahlleiterin Sachsen-Anhalt
- Far-right AfD wins big but falls short of majority — Associated Press
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „saksen-anhalt duitsland”
- Trouw — „saksen-anhalt duitsland”
- NRC — „saksen-anhalt duitsland”