The Thuringian parliament has elected Thadäus König of the CDU as its new president, following a decision by the Constitutional Court which paved the way for the vote. The election was marked by controversy and opposition, particularly from the AfD, whose candidate Wiebke Muhsal failed to secure the position.
Muhsal, previously convicted of fraud, faced rejection from the CDU, SPD, and other parties, ultimately leading to König's victory. He promised to restore trust and calm in the parliament during his inaugural speech.
The AfD, which had attempted to block the election, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome and criticized the court's intervention. Despite the turbulence, CDU leader Mario Voigt believes the parliamentary crisis is now behind them and is engaging in coalition discussions with the SPD and BSW.
The new vice-presidents include representatives from the Left, SPD, and BSW, while the AfD's attempts to secure a vice-presidential role were unsuccessful. The path to forming a stable government remains challenging, as the CDU has ruled out a coalition with the Left, and the proposed coalition with the SPD and BSW only holds half the seats.
The session highlighted ongoing tensions and illustrated the complex dynamics within Thuringia's political landscape.
