Turbulent Times in the Thuringian Parliament

The Thuringian state parliament has faced significant upheaval as it attempts to elect a new president. The initial session was marred by chaos, leading to intervention by the state constitutional court.

The court mandated that all parliamentary factions should have the right to propose candidates, resulting in an amendment to the rules of procedure. This decision came after AfD elder president Jürgen Treutler had refused to allow debate and voting on a new agenda, causing the session to break down.

The court's ruling allowed the session to continue with a revised agenda that included the election of the parliament president. The AfD nominated Wiebke Muhsal, a controversial figure due to a past fraud conviction.

Meanwhile, the CDU proposed Thadäus König, seen as a consensus candidate and lauded for his previous electoral success. The parliament eventually voted, with König securing the majority needed to become the new president.

The session highlighted deep-seated tensions, especially with the AfD being classified as a right-wing extremist party by the state Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Despite the fraught atmosphere, the parliament achieved its goal, setting the stage for future legislative activities under new leadership.