Election in Saxony-Anhalt: Federal Council sees itself prepared for possible AfD government

The Federal Council feels well-prepared in case the AfD should, for the first time, provide a Minister-President after the state election in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6. "Of course, that would be noticeable politically. But I don't really see any possibilities for disruption, such as delaying the business process or derailing the decision-making process," said Bundesrat President Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) to the German Press Agency in Berlin.

At the same time, he emphasized: "My firm conviction is that in the end, democratic forces will come out on top and there will be no AfD Minister-President. But we have to work hard for that." To do this, the voters must be won over and convinced, said the SPD politician, who is also the head of government in the state of Bremen.

"That's not something that happens on its own. A look at the polls shows that." Bovenschulte believes an AfD Minister-President can be prevented

In opinion polls, the AfD is far ahead of the CDU in Saxony-Anhalt, which currently provides the Minister-President with Sven Schulze. One must clearly and distinctly engage in a dispute with the AfD and show the alternatives, said Bovenschulte. "Then the majority of voters will decide in favor of a democratic alternative."

What if not? "The Bundesrat as a whole is well-prepared in terms of its rules of procedure and procedural rules for individual members not being on the ground of our liberal-democratic basic order," emphasized Bovenschulte. The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt was classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a reliably right-wing extremist endeavor in 2023.

"We have already adjusted our rules of procedure in 2025 and introduced some regulations that will help us in the future if the disputes perhaps become a bit tougher," explained the Bundesrat President. "But that had nothing to do with the AfD, it was simply overdue after more than 30 years."

Rules of procedure revised last year

In the change to its rules of procedure, which was hardly noticed by the public, the Bundesrat stipulated for the first time that its President and the two deputies can be recalled with a two-thirds majority. The same now also applies to committee chairs. And while the Bundesrat had to be convened if just one single state demanded it, at least two states are now required for unscheduled meetings.

Furthermore, until then, the head of government with the most years of life would lead the session of the Federal Council if all members of the Presidium were simultaneously prevented. Now, the head of government who has been a member of the Bundesrat for the longest period takes over. This prevents, for the foreseeable future, an AfD politician from getting this opportunity.

Expressions of approval and disapproval are uncustomary in the Bundesrat

In the Bundestag, the debates have become more heated with the AfD's entry. The number of calls for order has strongly increased, some AfD MPs collect them like trophies.

Such a development would not threaten the Bundesrat according to Bovenschulte's assessment. "The Bundesrat is perhaps the body in which the atmosphere would change the least." The debates in the Federal Council have a specific character. "For example, there is no applause, there are no expressions of approval or disapproval."

A single AfD state government would have little influence

Saxony-Anhalt has 4 of the 69 votes in the Bundesrat - and thus no possibility of blocking federal policy projects or pushing through its own initiatives. The state would need allies for this, but it will not find them among the other state governments.

Similar to the AfD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, an AfD state government in the Bundesrat is likely to be largely isolated.

Saxony-Anhalt takes over MPK chairmanship in the fall

A state has the most influence and the greatest external impact when it holds the presidency in the Bundesrat - like Bremen at the moment. The Bundesrat President also represents the Federal President, for example, when he is on foreign trips, on vacation or ill. The presidency changes every year in the fall according to a fixed rhythm. Saxony-Anhalt will not take over until 2036.

An AfD state government would not get any expanded influence opportunities for a decade in this way. However, it looks different in the important body of the Conference of Minister-Presidents (MPK). Here, Saxony-Anhalt takes over the chairmanship in the fall.