The inaugural session of the Thuringian state parliament descended into chaos, primarily due to actions by AfD's elder president, Jürgen Treutler. Treutler's refusal to conduct votes and his obstructionist behavior led to accusations of undermining parliamentary democracy. CDU parliamentary leader Mario Voigt condemned the AfD’s actions as an attack on democratic principles and individual representatives' rights. Treutler’s conduct, seen by many as an attempt to assume dictatorial control, disrupted the proceedings and prevented the election of a new parliamentary president.
Birgit Pommer from the Left Party described the AfD's actions as disrespectful to the people of Thuringia and democratic processes. Katja Wolf of the BSW criticized Treutler for trying to position himself as a godlike figure in the parliament. The turmoil prompted the CDU to file a constitutional complaint, seeking to change the parliamentary rules and prevent the AfD from nominating the president. Voigt accused Treutler of being a puppet for Björn Höcke, the Thuringian AfD leader.
Legal experts, including Professor Michael Brenner, criticized Treutler for testing the limits of the constitution and violating the principles of democracy and majority rule. The CDU and BSW seek to amend the parliamentary rules to allow all factions to propose presidential candidates. The Thuringian Constitutional Court is now involved, with a decision expected soon on whether the parliament can reorganize its rules and proceed with the election.
The situation has even led to calls for a ban on the AfD, with Thuringia's interim Interior Minister Georg Maier arguing that the party's actions meet the criteria for such a drastic measure. The court's decision will be crucial in determining the future functioning of the Thuringian parliament and the potential implications for the AfD.
