Ulrich Siegmund of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has said he will stand for election as Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt in December, according to Tagesspiegel. The announcement follows his party's victory in the state's recent election.
Siegmund confirmed his intention to seek the office, with German media including BILD and DIE ZEIT also reporting the move. Tagesspiegel reported the development under the headline noting that Siegmund will put himself forward for the vote in December.
The AfD's win in Saxony-Anhalt has left the party needing support from other parties to secure the state's top job. According to tagesschau.de, the AfD requires the backing of the BSW but does not trust it — a sign of the difficult coalition arithmetic facing the party as it tries to translate its election success into government.
Siegmund's decision to stand sets up a December vote in the state parliament, where the outcome will depend on whether he can assemble enough support from other parties. The reporting so far does not indicate whether such backing has been secured.
What to watch next: whether the AfD and the BSW can reach an agreement before the December vote, and whether Siegmund can gather the votes needed to become Minister-President.
