Ulrike Liedtke, the current President of the State Parliament in Brandenburg, has been nominated for a second term by the SPD parliamentary group. Her focus is on enhancing political education and establishing citizens' councils to foster better civic engagement. Meanwhile, the AfD's Dennis Hohloch faces criticism, and the SPD seems poised to reject Daniel Münschke, the AfD's Vice President nominee for the State Parliament.
Elsewhere, Dirk Spaniel, a long-time critic of AfD leader Alice Weidel, has exited the AfD parliamentary group and the party itself after failing to secure a top position in the Baden-Württemberg elections. This highlights ongoing tensions within the party as Weidel consolidates her leadership.
In Osnabrück, the Bad Iburger Gespräche conference aims to address threats to local democracy. With Dirk Pejril, the President of the Lower Saxony Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as the opening speaker, the event will explore ways to safeguard political engagement at the municipal level.
In other developments, former Leipzig police chief Bernd Merbitz declined an advisory role with the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). This move comes as Merbitz, previously involved with the CDU, continues his focus on local sports leadership rather than political advisory roles.
Adding to the political landscape, Alice Weidel, despite being a potential chancellor candidate for the AfD, plans to maintain her residence in Switzerland. This decision has stirred debate, given her prominent role in German politics.
