When the Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt convened on October 13, 2026, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) parliamentary group decided, after a three-hour meeting, to leave the debating chamber as the vote for minister president approached. The move was not a protest in the traditional sense but a strategic withdrawal aimed at preventing any hint that CDU lawmakers might cast votes for the AfD candidate, Ulrich Siegmund.
CDU faction leader Sven Schulze explained the reasoning in a calm tone. "Die Fraktion hat sich darauf verständigt, das machen zu wollen," he said, a phrase that captured the collective resolve of his colleagues. "Ich habe jetzt das Gefühl, dass die Fraktion wirklich ein ganzes Stück wieder zusammengerückt ist nach der Diskussion heute."
The decision was a clear statement: the CDU would not be present to influence the outcome, even though the AfD held 39 seats in the Landtag. Siegmund needed a minimum of 42 votes to secure a majority.
The decision to leave the chamber had ripple effects beyond the immediate vote.
The vote for Landtag president had taken place earlier that day, a separate but related event that set the stage for the minister-president election. The CDU's absence during the subsequent vote was a direct response to the outcome of that earlier contest, where the party's poor performance had underscored the risks of aligning too closely with the AfD.
In the minutes of the CDU Landtag faction, 15 members of the leadership proposed the withdrawal, and 14 voted in favor.
Siegmund's campaign had been built on the AfD's 39 seats, but the math was unforgiving. With 39 votes secured, he still required at least three additional votes from other parties to reach the 42-vote threshold. The CDU's decision to stay out meant that Siegmund would likely not receive the additional votes needed to reach a majority.
The strategy was not merely about preventing a win; it was also a statement to the electorate. By stepping out, the CDU signaled that it would not support a government led by a party it deemed incompatible with its values, even if that meant leaving the Landtag without a minister president.
When the vote concluded, the chamber was quiet. The absence of CDU members was palpable, a stark contrast to the usual bustle of parliamentary debate. With the CDU's absence, Siegmund would likely not achieve a majority.
The decision to leave the chamber had ripple effects beyond the immediate vote. It underscored the fragile balance of power in Saxony-Anhalt and highlighted the CDU's willingness to take a stand, even at the cost of political influence.
The CDU's withdrawal was part of a broader pattern of strategic distancing from the AfD that has been unfolding across German state parliaments. In Saxony-Anhalt, the move came after a series of elections and internal debates that had left the party's leadership in a precarious position.
Sepp Müller, a Bundestag member and rival of Schulze, supported the decision, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a clear opposition to the AfD's policies. The CDU's stance was consistent with its broader national strategy of limiting the AfD's reach into executive positions.
With no clear majority, the Landtag now faces a period of uncertainty. The CDU's empty seats serve as a reminder of the political calculus that shapes German state politics: sometimes, the most powerful move is to step away.