AfD delegation from Saxony-Anhalt travels to Vienna for talks with FPÖ
A group of AfD politicians from Saxony-Anhalt, including likely future state premier Ulrich Siegmund, visited Vienna to meet representatives of Austria's FPÖ.
Following its strong performance in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, the AfD sent a delegation to Vienna to hold talks with the Freedom Party of Austria. Tobias Rausch, the parliamentary manager of the AfD state parliamentary group, said the visit would extend a dialogue that began earlier in the year. The party's top candidate Ulrich Siegmund, who is expected to become state premier, and state party chief Martin Reichardt were part of the delegation.
FPÖ representatives indicated that no public press conference was planned, but highlighted the value of observing how the Austrian party maintains its principles while participating in government. The AfD hopes the exchange will help it prepare for potential executive responsibilities. Observers note that the AfD's election results have shifted the German conservative landscape.
How this story developed
- Aug 23 Merz warns AfD win in Saxony-Anhalt could scare off foreign investors
- Sep 20 Polls now show Die Linke slightly ahead of the CDU in Berlin and the AfD closing on the SPD in Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern.
- Sep 20 Chancellor Friedrich Merz admitted his CDU suffered a crushing defeat in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the AfD reached 37% while the CDU fell to 5.5%.
- Sep 20 AfD emerged as the largest party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s state election, but Manuela Schwesig of the SPD will receive the mandate to form a government.
- Sep 20 AfD emerged as the front‑runner in Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern and Die Linke topped the Berlin vote.
- Sep 21 The CDU failed to clear the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, losing all its seats in the state parliament.
- Sep 21 Elif Eralp, the daughter of Turkish left-wing refugees, was named Die Linke's lead candidate for the Berlin mayoral race, drawing parallels to New York mayor Bill de Blasio’s predecessor.
- Sep 21 Speaking on Tagesschau Extra, Krings said a division of the two top positions has not been ruled out and should be openly discussed. He recalled past CDU experiences where combining the roles proved problematic and stressed that the country's interests must come before personal ambitions. Krings added that the party must focus on overdue reforms rather than debating leadership changes, especially after recent electoral defeats in several states.
- Sep 21 Hamburg party chairman Dennis Thering called for Chancellor Merz to seek a confidence vote in the Bundestag.
- Sep 21 CDU failed to win any seats in the Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern parliament.
- Sep 21 The Greens announced they will seek a red‑green‑red coalition with the Left and SPD.
- Sep 21 AfD received about 44% of the vote in Saxony‑Anhalt, falling short of a majority by three seats.
- Sep 22 The CDU top council met on Monday to voice concerns about the party’s leadership.
- Sep 23 SPD and Greens require Die Linke to demonstrate anti‑antisemitism safeguards before coalition talks can proceed.
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