Saxony-Anhalt's newly elected state parliament is holding its first procedural sessions, and WELT reports the opening is shaping up as an early test of power for the AfD. The party is pushing for a say in how the chamber sets its rules, according to WELT.
The dispute is not only about procedure. MDR.de reports that a pre-council of senior members is preparing the parliament's restart, and that the size of committees has become a political question. The AfD has also changed its seating position in the Magdeburg chamber, moving to the centre, according to Volksstimme.
The broader picture is a fragmented parliament. Tagesschau.de reports that the SPD is looking for partners to form a government without the AfD, and that the CDU has declined. FOCUS online reports that the BSW has already secured influence in the parliament for its figure Siegmund, even before a government is settled.
Taken together, the reports suggest the opening weeks will be about who controls the chamber's working rules and committee structures, not just who governs. Committee size and seating arrangements can affect speaking time, staffing and the balance of influence between parties.
What to watch next: whether the parties can agree on rules and committee sizes, and whether the SPD finds a coalition partner willing to govern without the AfD.
