Sven Schulze breaks abstention pledge, votes against AfD candidate in Landtag election

During the election of the first AfD president of the Sachsen-Anhalt Landtag, CDU faction chairman Sven Schulze disclosed that he voted no, breaking his earlier commitment to abstain. While the CDU had urged its members to stay neutral, only five lawmakers actually abstained, and fourteen CDU deputies were on the floor. Beyond Schulze, three other CDU legislators - Sandra Hietel-Heuer, Tobias Krull and Tim Teßmann - publicly opposed the AfD nominee, arguing that the appointment of Hans-Thomas Tillschneider as vice-president was a deliberate provocation.

Their dissent shattered the previously cohesive voting line within the party. In the final tally, at least four non-AfD, non-BSW members backed Tobias Rausch as the AfD president, suggesting possible CDU involvement. No CDU deputy has claimed a yes vote. The AfD later alleged that the CDU had made broader agreements to influence the upcoming selection of the state premier, potentially benefiting Ulrich Siegmund.