The Authority has been requested to put forward a proposal for a regulation aimed at safeguarding workers from hazards resulting from ionising radiation exposure.
In Erfurt, the newly assembled Thuringian state parliament experiences tumultuous events during its inaugural meeting. Led by an AfD member, the election of the parliamentary leadership is anticipated, but even the agenda spark controversy. The initial session is marred by repeated interruptions and heated debates.
The session gathers significant attention, as disagreements concerning the procedure had surfaced ahead of time. Under current regulations, the AfD, as the most powerful faction, is entitled to propose the state parliament president's election. The CDU and BSW instead advocate for alterations to the procedure rules, enabling all factions to present proposals from the outset. To achieve this, it would necessitate a point-of-order and the state parliament's endorsement. The AfD member repeatedly disregarded the CDU faction's requests to establish this capability and refused compliance.
This behavior from Treutler and the AfD sparks growing discontent among the other factions. "The AfD is driving democracy through a circus ring with their nose," said BSW faction leader Katja Wolf. The parliamentary business manager of the CDU, Andreas Bühl, stated, "What you are doing here is a power grab." Left-wing MP Katharina König-Preuss referred to it as a "coup against democracy" in a post on X. Similar sentiments were expressed by Thuringia's acting interior minister and SPD MP Georg Maier, who declared, "The AfD is launching an attack on our democracy from within."
Numerous interruptions
Treutler, fortunate enough to preside over the session as the most senior member, began with his opening speech. In it, he emphasized the AfD's claim to the position of parliamentary president, as a "never-questioned practice" within the state parliament. He warned that going against this could undermine democracy.
The elected parliamentarians were urged to "accept the election results calmly and objectively" and to abide by the will of the sovereign. He cautioned against damaging political culture. Regarding the formation of the government, he mentioned a "not-to-be-overlooked option" for a stable parliamentary majority. Following Treutler's speech, the CDU faction made another attempt to establish the ability of the parliament to make a decision, but the session was interrupted once more.
In accordance with the rules of procedure, the AfD, deemed right-wing extremist by the Thuringian Office for the Protection of the Constitution, initially holds the right to propose a candidate for the president's position as the strongest faction. The AfD chose MP Wiebke Muhsal for the position of state parliament president. Muhsal was convicted of fraud and fined a few years ago.
The election of the parliamentary speaker proves challenging. The other factions - CDU, BSW, SPD, and Left - vehemently oppose an AfD politician holding the top position. The CDU and BSW proposed alterations to the procedure rules earlier, enabling candidates from all factions to be proposed in the first round. In accordance with the current rules, this privilege is reserved for the strongest faction during the initial two rounds. A simple majority is required for election, which means more votes in favor than against.
The other parties aim to prevent an AfD politician from claiming the top position through this rule change and to ultimately avoid parliamentary deadlocks, such as delays. The CDU nominated its MP Thadaeus König as a candidate for the election of the state parliament president. The AfD had previously rejected the rule change, resulting in a clash of opinions.
With the formation of the new parliament, the term of the red-red-green minority government of Minister President Ramelow comes to an end. The state constitution stipulates that the incumbent government members shall continue their duties in an acting capacity until their successors assume office. Ramelow handed over the relevant documents to his cabinet in the morning in Erfurt.
The international community expresses concern over the situation in Thuringia's parliament, given the controversy. Many diplomats and observers in The Netherlands, known for its strong democracy, have expressed their concerns about the AfD's actions.
Despite the AfD's alleged violations of democratic norms, there are no indications of any international sanctions against The Netherlands or Thuringia, as they are still operating within the bounds of their respective constitutional frameworks.
