Anything but routine: The Thuringian state parliament elects a prime minister on Wednesday. The main candidate is election winner Bodo Ramelow – but there are some hurdles.
- Thuringia: The state parliament elects a prime minister on Wednesday (February 5) – the session has been running since 11:00.
- All eyes are on incumbent Bodo Ramelow (left). He is missing four votes for re-election.
- The AfD has set up a (non-partisan) candidate. FDP leader Thomas Kemmerich joined in the third ballot.
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1:32 pm: The result will undoubtedly cause heated debates. Thomas Kemmerich is the first German Prime Minister to elected by the AfD in office and dignity is – and that also from the national association of party right wingers Bjorn Höcke,
Another explosive detail: the father of the country is now the previous group leader of the weakest parliamentary group. The FDP had had to fear for days in October to enter the state parliament. The party received 5.0 percent of the vote.
1.30 p.m .: Kemmerich has taken the oath of office and now accepts congratulations – from CDU chief Mike Mohring, but also from Björn Höcke (AfD). However, Kemmerich looks stunned rather than happy.
1:29 pm: The result was subsequently submitted: Ramelow received 44 votes, Kemmerich 45.
Gigantic election bang in Thuringia: FDP overthrows Ramelow with AfD votes – horror in the state parliament
1:28 p.m .: There was a big bang: FDP candidate Thomas Kemmerich is with the voices of the AFD been elected Prime Minister. Kemmerich accepts the choice. The AfD is cheering – Kemmerich is initially motionless to take note of the result. Bodo Ramelow shakes her head in amazement.
1:26 p.m .: The count continues. Apparently the committee is now taking it very carefully.
1:20 p.m .: The ballot is over, the votes are counted.
1:15 p.m .: That for some liberals Kemmerich’s candidacy is not a formality, but with an FDP prime minister Supporting the AfD a desirable scenario, the FDP MP Hagen Reinhold seems to make it clear on Twitter. “Really exciting what’s happening in Thuringia. I keep my fingers crossed for Thomas Kemmerich! “, He posts.
Really exciting what is currently in #Thuringia happens. I press @KemmerichThL the thumbs!
– Hagen Reinhold, Member of the Bundestag (@reinholdmdb) February 5, 2020
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The mood is very different Ramelow’s left, The Thuringians Party leader Susanne Hennig-Wellsow was horrified by the starting point for the third ballot, This was “catastrophic,” she said on Wednesday in the state parliament in Erfurt. The fact that Ramelow, FDP parliamentary group leader Thomas Kemmerich and the non-affiliated Christoph Kindervater nominated by the AfD could result in a big “ruse” by the AfD parliamentary group. This can now vote in unison for the FDP candidate.
Thuringia: Decisive ballot is in progress – AfD is now tipping the scales
1:07 p.m .: Now it starts. The deputies walk to the voting booths in alphabetical order. The representatives of the AfD are now tip over the scales. If they vote for Kemmerich, then Bodo Ramelow is voted out of office – and the AfD would, as it were, have given its first prime minister office and dignity.
1:05 p.m .: The final vote is not yet running in Thuringia – because of the new candidates in the third ballot the ballot papers had to be reprinted.
12.52 p.m .: How will the new constellation affect the final round in the Thuringian Prime Minister election impact? Most likely seems that CDU and FDP for the new candidate Thomas Kemmerich vote and AFD such as Red-Red-Green continue to vote for their own candidates. In this case Bodo Ramelow the relative majority of the votes and would be confirmed as Prime Minister. Legal disputes over the result would also be excluded.
There is, however, an unpredictability: Should the AFD have decided the non-party Christoph child father no longer support and vote for Kemmerich, then it would be possible that the FDP leader with the help of right-wing populists Ramelow outperformed. That would be an unexpected turning point – but it would also presuppose that the CDU and FDP actually support Kemmerich in unison. This currently works as a rather theoretical scenario. There is certainty in a few minutes.
Explosive finale in Thuringia: FDP dares new move
12.42 p.m .: The Thuringian Landtag takes action again. And the FDP makes its announcement true: it sends Thomas Kemmerich against Bodo Ramelow in the race. The AfD leaves its candidate Christoph child father in the race.
Common cause? Thomas Kemmerich (left) in conversation with Thuringia’s CDU chief Mike Mohring.
© dpa / Martin Schutt
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12.38 p.m .: No matter how third ballot will end: The State government of Thuringia will initially have to work in an unusual constellation – one minority government is still very unusual in Germany. Why there is a particularly special case in Thuringia and which work mode Bodo Ramelow was considering, find out in this overview text at Merkur.de*.
12.22 p.m .: Once again the Thuringian state parliament pauses between the ballots, one 30-minute session break is in progress. It is possible that important decisions are made during the break – the FDP had thought about it in a third ballot Country chief Thomas Kemmerich to send into the race. If this happens, the arithmetic should again swirl violently. AfD and CDU would then be faced with the question of whether they would like to help Kemmerich to become prime minister. Theoretically, they would have the necessary majority in association with the Liberals.
At the same time, the number of abstentions is likely to decrease further in this case. That could also be relevant: Was controversial before election daywhether in this last round it is enough to collect the majority of the candidates’ votes, or whether a majority with abstentions or no votes ends the vote unsuccessfully.
Second ballot in the Thuringian Prime Minister election: Ramelow and child father fail again
12.12 p.m .: The result of second ballot: Falls again Bodo Ramelow by. However, the situation has shifted slightly in his favor. 44 MPs voted for him, one more than in the first round. His counterparty supported by the AfD Christoph child father loses three votes and now apparently only has the 22 AfD representatives behind him. The number of abstentions increased from 22 to 24.
12.08 p.m .: The MPs cast their votes. Now it is counted.
Guesswork about the election of prime minister in Thuringia: CDU surprised by the result
12.02 p.m .: Representatives of the CDU parliamentary group were surprised during the session break that AfD candidate Christoph Kindervater more than the 22 votes of the AfD got. “We are 21 members of the parliamentary group and have abstained – I am assuming that,” said CDU MP Mario Voigt, who is also Vice-Chairman of the Thuringian CDU.
11:58 a.m .: Now it goes in Thuringian state parliament continue with the second ballot. The procedure is the same as in the first round less than an hour ago. Accordingly, a result could be available in around 15 minutes.
Excitement over Prime Minister election in Thuringia: More CDU and FDP votes for AfD candidate than for Ramelow?
11.50 a.m .: The result of the first run of the Thuringian Prime Minister election is expected to cause some excitement on social networks. The focus is less that Ramelow – as expected after the distribution of seats – did not get the required majority Has. Rather, the fact that from among the CDU and FDP factions not represented with their own candidates, apparently more MPs voted for the AfD candidate than for Ramelow. Ramelow probably received an additional voice by Union and Liberals, Christoph Kindervater three,
“From the democratic parties three votes for an AfD candidate for the prime ministerial post. Shame on you, ”tweeted the previous one Left Vice President Halina Wawzyniak, Other users became clearer: “At least three non-AfD MPs have no conscience and followed the AfD election proposal in the first ballot (…),” it said in the posting of an SPD employee.
From the democratic parties three votes for an AfD candidate for the prime ministerial post. Shame on you. #Thuringia
– Halina Wawzyniak (@Halina_Waw) February 5, 2020
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11.28 a.m .: The political groups are now given a break to consult – and possibly also to find “deviants” in their ranks. The AfD has requested a 30-minute session break.
Prime Minister election in Thuringia: Ramelow fails – mystery over bonus votes for leftists and AfD opponents
11:22 am: The result of the first ballot is available: Bodo Ramelow missed success for the time being – very close. Ramelow received 43 votes, 46 would have been needed. However, its red-red-green government actually has only 42 MPs. A member of another parliamentary group must therefore have voted for Ramelow.
However, the other components of the result also have it in them: for that of AFD nominated non-party candidates Christoph child father 25 MPs voted – although the party only has 22 seats. There were also 22 abstentions. All 90 members of the state parliament have thus given valid ballots.
Prime Minister election in Thuringia
© dpa / Martin Schutt
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11.07 a.m .: State President Birgit Keller (left) explains the procedure again: the first two rounds of voting are necessary 46 out of a total of 90 votes of deputies, In the third, that is enough simple majority of the votes cast – abstentions are possible. There will be no debate before the election. It starts with the secret vote. The deputies are called individually to voting booths in the Plensarsaal and then to the polls.
11.02 a.m .: The session now begins – is at the center of interest Bodo Ramelow, A cluster of photographers, cameramen and fellow left-wing colleagues who have best wishes has formed around the still-serving Prime Minister. It will be seen in the following hours whether Ramelow will receive another term in office. However, it could take around two hours until a result is known. In any case, Ramelow seems to be doing the best – he even sends kissing hands to the plenary.
Bodo Ramelow before the decisive session in the Thuringian state parliament
© AFP / JENS SCHLUETER
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10.55 a.m .: The decisive one starts in a few minutes Meeting in the Thuringian state parliament – The new Prime Minister is elected in the building in the south of the state capital Erfurt. The date could well be turbulent. You can find out which scenarios are conceivable at Merkur.de*.
Thuringia: SPD appalled by FDP ministerial offer – “presumptuousness”
10:34 a.m .: Shortly before the Prime Minister election in Thuringia, the SPD state chairman Wolfgang Tiefensee new Advancements of the FDP rejected. It was about an offer under which the Social Democratic ministers could keep their office under an FDP prime minister. This was “a political dam break” and “presumptuousness”, wrote Tiefensee on Wednesday morning on Twitter. The SPD would neither unite in parliament nor in the government Prime Ministers “at the mercy of the AfD” support.
Tiefensee thus referred to a statement by the Thuringian FDP chairman Thomas Kemmerich, This had the newspaper Free word said, should he be elected head of government, “it would not be necessary to replace all ministers who are still in office, for example those of the SPD”.
Thuringia shortly before the Prime Minister election: Ramelow addresses parliamentary groups
9.50 a.m .: Immediately before Prime Minister election in Thuringia Has Bodo Ramelow appealed to the parliamentary factions’ ability to compromise. “Democrats are conversational and ready to talk. Today it says more democracy and less party book dare! ”wrote the left candidate, who wants to be re-elected, on Wednesday morning on Twitter. He went with great confidence in the Prime Minister election on Wednesday. “My hand is outstretched to try something new,” wrote Ramelow.
Today I go to the Prime Minister election with great confidence. My hand is outstretched to try something new.
Democrats are conversational and ready to talk. Today it means more democracy and less party book!– Bodo Ramelow (@bodoramelow) February 5, 2020
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Thuringia: Ramelow could fall over AfD candidate – Habeck appeals to CDU
Update from February 5, 2020, 9.25 a.m .: Bodo Ramelow (Left) wants to meet again today after his election victory in autumn to be elected Prime Minister of Thuringia to let. But there are uncertainties. In addition to the missing absolute majority of Ramelows red-red-green coalition it is above all the non-party candidate Christoph child father, He could theoretically with the Voices from CDU, AfD and FDP be elected head of government – so the CDU and FDP are not afraid to choose a politician nominated by the AfD.
Top politicians of the Thuringian coalition parties SPD, Greens and Leftists then warned in advance of such a scenario. “If a candidate is elected with the votes of the AfD, this is not an oversight – a fire protection wall has been torn down,” said Greens boss Robert Habeck the Berliner Tagesspiegel, “The CDU has made it clear several times that there can be no cooperation with the AfD. Now she has to Thuringia to prove.”
The parliamentary managing director of the SPD parliamentary group from Thuringia, Carsten Schneidersaid the “Tagesspiegel” with regard to the CDU: “If it has really clarified its relationship with the enemies of democracy, it can not put up a candidate for the post of prime minister with a prospect of success.” The CDU should accept the formation of the minority coalition and opt for constructive collaboration.
The chairman of the left-wing parliamentary group in the Bundestag made a similar statement, Dietmar Bartsch, “I hope that the CDU in Thuringia will assume its national political responsibility,” he told the newspapers of the Funke media group. “I expect that in the election she will behave in such a way that Bodo Ramelow becomes prime minister and that she will then be a constructive opposition in the state parliament and that she will work with the new government on issues that advance Thuringia.”
Election in Thuringia: Before the prime minister election there is trouble – also in the CDU
Update at 2.35 p.m .: How to use the red-red-green minority government to handle correctly? Argue about that before Prime Minister election in Thuringia also CDU politician outside the state. Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein Daniel Günther (CDU) In view of the difficult majority, the Thuringian party colleagues were tolerated: “The answer cannot be that we go stubbornly into the opposition,” he told the newspapers New Berlin editorial company from Tuesday. At the same time Günther warned of a “loss of confidence of people, because they want a stable government “.
The Young Union reacted to Günther’s statements fierce criticism, JU boss Tilman Kuban spoke out to the Bild newspaper against any tolerance of the Left Party. “The Union must never go to Majority procurer of the SED heirs Kuban warned. “We all do well not to give the Thuringian CDU any advice in this difficult situation that contradicts our incompatibility resolution as Germany’s CDU.”
Those who are candidates for the Prime Minister position in Thuringia on Wednesday find out in this article at Merkur.de*.
Showdown in Thuringia: Many imponderables for Ramelow – who will be Prime Minister?
Update 1.35 p.m .: The AFD candidate for the post of Prime Minister of Thuringia, Christoph child father, now wants to personally at the Election in the Erfurt state parliament to be present. He had been able to postpone his business trip in Hesse, the child’s father told the German Press Agency on Tuesday night. Several media had previously reported on it. At first, the independent mayor of Sundhausen had stated that he could not be present in the state parliament on Wednesday because of the business trip.
Preview: who will become Thuringian Prime Minister? Turbulent days for Bodo Ramelow
Erfurt / Munich – The Election of a prime minister is usually more of a routine matter in Germany’s state parliaments: after the state election and the conclusion of the coalition negotiations, the necessary majority for the head of state is usually a matter of form. When in Thuringia on Wednesday Bodo Ramelow However, the situation is somewhat different.
Because Ramelow has – like in the previous legislative period – a red-red-green coalition ready. However, it no longer has a majority. This harbors dangers and explosives for the Prime Minister’s freestyle. Legal issues have been disputed to the last in Thuringia. And even if you choose, there is a lot of work to do on Ramelow.
Ramelow wants to remain prime minister of Thuringia – four votes are missing
Ramelow and his targeted alliance are absent from parliament four votes for a majority, Left, SPD and Greens only come down to 42 of the 90 seats after the SPD and the Greens have lost ground. While Ramelow in the first two ballots one absolute majority needed to be elected as Prime Minister, in the third ballot one is sufficient according to the constitution relative majority, According to a state parliament spokesman, spontaneous candidacies are also possible in this ballot. The withdrawal of an applicant is also conceivable.
Does he get enough votes? Bodo Ramelow in the Thuringian state parliament.
© dpa / Martin Schutt
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Opposing candidates for Ramelow: AfD sends non-partisans into the race for the premiership
At least one against candidates there will be: The AfD faction of the right wing Björn Höcke sends the independent volunteer mayor Christoph child father as a candidate in the race. The child’s father already had one with him at the weekend Letter to CDU, FDP and AfD brought into play. According to his own statements, he does not belong to any party, but he described himself as a supporter of the Union of Values - a group of very conservative CDU members.
The CDU does not want to send his own candidate into the race in the first two ballots and then coordinate with the FDP. Party leader Mike Mohring has actually already waved. The Thuringian liberals may want their party leader Thomas Kemmerich send into the race. His faction had been given the mandate by the party council to nominate a candidate in the third ballot if only candidates from the left and the AfD were to be elected, Kemmerich said on Monday evening during a meeting of the Thuringian FDP party council in Erfurt.
Prime Minister Thuringia: It could be exciting in the third ballot
If so it could be exciting in the last ballot: In the past, the Thuringian AfD repeatedly signaled that it would possibly elect a candidate from the CDU or FDP. AfD, CDU and FDP together have 48 out of 90 seats and together would have a majority in the state parliament. The CDU, in particular, had previously asserted no prime minister with the help of the AfD want to get into office.
For Ramelow, an opposing candidate could also bring advantages: At the moment, it is considered legally controversialwhether a single candidate in Thuringia can be elected with more no than yes votes. In the case of at least two candidates, however, the constitution is considered clear: the person who receives the most votes is then chosen.
Prime Minister election in Thuringia: Red-Red-Green fixes coalition agreement, CDU country chief appeals to party friends
At least their internal homework was done by the Left, SPD and Greens shortly before the Prime Minister election: more than three months after the state election in Thuringia, they got theirs on Tuesday Coalition agreement signed, In addition to Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow, SPD state leader Wolfgang Tiefensee and Greens parliamentary group leader Dirk Adams presented the signed contract.
The Schleswig-Holstein head of government Daniel Günther (CDU) appealed to his party’s sense of responsibility. In his view, the CDU should be open to tolerating a minority government with the participation of the left at the state level if necessary. “It has always been part of the core brand of the CDU that, no matter how difficult the situation, we have always assumed responsibility,” said Günther of the Neue Berliner Redaktionsgesellschaft. “The answer cannot be that we stubbornly go into the opposition.”
More about Bodo Ramelow and his for an East German left-wing politician You can find out unusual biography at Merkur.de*.
AFP / dpa / fn
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
List of rubric lists: © dpa / Martin Schutt
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