State Parliament in Erfurt | BSW talks with the AfD in Thuringia at the highest level?

In the conflict that has been simmering for months over the composition of two committees that are important for the Thuringian judiciary, the chairman of the BSW parliamentary group, Frank Augsten, is now, according to information from our newspaper, actually seeking direct talks with the AfD - and in doing so is likely creating a situation that has presumably never existed before: Augsten will most likely meet with the AfD parliamentary group leader Björn Höcke during this discussion.

Even long-standing members of the Thuringian state parliament who hold or have held high positions there cannot recall any direct discussions between Höcke and another parliamentary group leader. In recent years, at least as far as is publicly known or according to the recollections of the various members of parliament, there have at most been discussions between representatives of the AfD and the other parliamentary group at the level of the parliamentary managers.

Now, however, Augsten and a representative of the AfD parliamentary group will meet on the sidelines of the next plenary session, a spokesperson for the BSW parliamentary group said in Erfurt on Tuesday. This discussion will focus on the options available for properly staffing both the judges' and public prosecutors' selection committees. The spokesperson did not specify who Augsten will meet with during this meeting.

AfD deputy parliamentary group leader Daniel Haseloff confirmed the plans for such a meeting – and went into more detail. While the AfD hasn't yet made a final decision on who Augsten will speak to, Haseloff said it will likely be Höcke. After all, it's in line with parliamentary practice for a parliamentary group leader to speak with another parliamentary group leader.

A few days ago, Augsten announced his intention to invite Höcke to a meeting to resolve the dispute over the composition of the two committees. However, he only wanted to do this after consulting with the parliamentary group leaders of the CDU and SPD, Andreas Bühl and Lutz Liebscher, Augsten said. However, he would conduct the meeting not on behalf of the Blackberry coalition, but rather on behalf of the BSW (Federal Social Democratic Party). Liebscher had already stated at the time that, in his view, Augsten did not need permission from, for example, the Social Democrats if he wanted to talk to Höcke. "That's his decision."

In Thuringia, the election of members to the Judges' and Public Prosecutors' Selection Committees has been a long-running struggle. The representatives appointed by the state parliament to both committees must be elected by a two-thirds majority. However, representatives from the CDU, BSW, Left Party, and SPD have consistently failed in the respective elections because the AfD refuses to co-opt them. Both committees participate in the appointment of judges and public prosecutors to the service of the Free State.

Meanwhile, according to its chairman, Andreas Bühl, the CDU parliamentary group is making another attempt to fill these two committees. The CDU will present a proposed list at this plenary session, including members of all parliamentary groups represented in the state parliament. The CDU intends to nominate AfD MP Olaf Kießling for appointment to the committees. Then the AfD can demonstrate whether it is truly concerned with the state's ability to function or with obstructing the judiciary, Bühl said.