{
  "id": 12609743,
  "title": "Germany: Did CDU lawmakers support the far-right AfD?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/germany-did-cdu-lawmakers-support-the-far-right-afd",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T11:11:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW English (Top Stories)",
    "slug": "dw-english-top-stories",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/germany-did-cdu-lawmakers-support-the-far-right-afd/a-79577396?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-xml-mrss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Following events in the parliament of Saxony-Anhalt, speculation is rife that CDU lawmakers may have supported the election of a far-right extremist as parliamentary speaker. Despite CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz insisting his party would not cooperate with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Tobias Rausch, a representative of a far-right party, was elected as parliamentary speaker for the first time since World War II. Rausch received four additional votes by secret ballot, which most observers believe came from right-wing CDU lawmakers. SPD Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil emphasized the troubling nature of the situation, stating that electing far-right extremists to such an office represents a taboo brake and called for CDU and BSW (formerly Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance) to explain how this could have happened.",
  "summary": "Lawmakers of the center-right CDU may have voted for the far-right AfD candidate for parliamentary speaker in Saxony-Anhalt. Germany's Social Democrats warn of a \"unique breach of taboos.\"",
  "key_points": [
    "CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz denies cooperation with far-right AfD.",
    "Tobias Rausch elected as parliamentary speaker, far-right extremist.",
    "Four secret ballot votes likely from right-wing CDU lawmakers."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/12609743.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Local Germany",
        "title": "PODCAST🎧: How Germany is grappling with far-right gains and rising transport costs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/podcast-how-germany-is-grappling-with-far-right-gains-and-rising",
        "published": "2026-10-07T08:54:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Germany: Did CDU lawmakers support the far-right AfD?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/germany-did-cdu-lawmakers-support-the-far-right-afd-12611075",
        "published": "2026-10-07T11:11:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}