Saxony-Anhalt parliament elects AfD president and two vice-presidents, SPD candidate fails

According to Tagesschau, the newly constituted Saxony-Anhalt state parliament elected Tobias Rausch of the AfD as its president. The same source said that Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, also of the AfD, was chosen as the first vice-president. Die Welt reported that Rausch is the first AfD politician to hold the presidency of a German state parliament.

Tagesschau stated that Carsten Borchert of the CDU was elected as the second vice-president with 64 yes votes, 17 no votes and one abstention. Die Welt gave similar numbers for Borchert's vote. Tagesschau also reported that the AfD's Tillschneider received 44 yes votes and 38 no votes in the first round of voting.

According to Tagesschau and Die Welt, the SPD candidate Armin Willingmann failed to obtain the third vice-presidency, receiving 33 yes votes, 48 no votes and one invalid ballot. Tagesschau noted that after this result only two vice-presidents were filled, leaving the third post vacant.

Die Welt quoted the BSW faction leader Thomas Schulze saying that his five deputies definitely did not vote for Tillschneider. Tagesschau reported that CDU faction leader Sven Schulze stated that his party had agreed to vote against Tillschneider and had done so.

Tagesschau and Die Welt both reported Tillschneider saying he intends to exercise his office 'ganz professionell und unauffällig' and that he does not understand the concerns about his person.