AfD and BSW to table Saxony-Anhalt motion ending military support for Ukraine
Germany's AfD and the BSW plan a joint motion in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament calling for an end to military support for Ukraine. It is symbolic, since foreign policy is a federal matter.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Right · 1Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) will launch a joint motion with the small BSW party in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament calling for an end to military support for Ukraine, an AfD spokesperson said on 7 October. The Straits TimesRC “will launch a joint motion with the small far-left BSW party in a regional parliament calling for an end to military support for Ukraine, an AfD spokesperson said on Wednesday.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Mixed · 2The motion is due to be debated next week; Meduza gives 14 October as the vote date. The Straits TimesRC “The motion, to be debated in the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt next week” Read at The Straits Times ↗ MeduzaLC “A vote on the resolution is scheduled for October 14.” Read at Meduza ↗ Mixed · 2Reuters and, per Meduza, Deutsche Welle describe it as symbolic: foreign policy is the exclusive responsibility of the federal government in Berlin, so the motion will have no immediate effect. The Straits TimesRC “will have no immediate impact on Germany's foreign policy, which is exclusively the responsibility of the federal government in Berlin.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ MeduzaLC “DW and Reuters said it will be symbolic because state governments have no influence over Germany’s foreign policy.” Read at Meduza ↗
Left · 1According to Meduza, the text would have the state parliament declare that sanctions on Russia and arms and financial aid to Ukraine have failed, and call for an immediate ceasefire, peace talks with Russia, normal economic relations and the lifting of sanctions. MeduzaLC “The authors call for “an immediate ceasefire and the start of peace talks with Russia,” as well as restoring normal economic relations between Germany and Russia and lifting sanctions.” Read at Meduza ↗ Right · 1AfD state leader Ulrich Siegmund said the motion "symbolises the desire for change" and that the party would press Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government to campaign for an end to the war and to spend the money for people in Germany. The Straits TimesRC “"This motion symbolises the desire for change," Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD leader in Saxony-Anhalt, said in a statement.”“"for the people in our country"” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Mixed · 2BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht wrote on X that Germany needed a federal government that resumes dialogue with Moscow, and Meduza reports BSW representatives said policy should prioritise the town of Köthen over Kyiv. The Straits TimesRC “a federal government that finally makes an effort to resume dialogue with Moscow” Read at The Straits Times ↗ MeduzaLC “Germany needs policies that prioritize Köthen, a town in Saxony-Anhalt, over Kyiv.” Read at Meduza ↗
Mixed · 2In the September election the AfD won Saxony-Anhalt with its best-ever result, 43.8% and 39 of 83 seats, which fell short of a majority; with the BSW's seats it holds 44, according to Meduza. MeduzaLC “Alternative for Germany won the election in Saxony-Anhalt with its best-ever result — 43.8% of the vote. The party took 39 of the state parliament’s 83 seats. Together with the Union for Social Justice, it holds 44 seats.” Read at Meduza ↗ The Straits TimesRC “falling just short of the majority he would need to form the first-ever AfD government” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Mixed · 2Siegmund has been exploring possible cooperation arrangements with the BSW, and Meduza adds that the AfD says it is already in talks with Russia about resuming gas supplies, with foreign policy spokesperson Markus Frohnmaier having spoken to Gazprom chief Alexey Miller. The Straits TimesRC “He has since been exploring potential cooperation arrangements with the BSW” Read at The Straits Times ↗ MeduzaLC “Markus Frohnmaier, discussed the issue with Gazprom chief Alexey Miller.” Read at Meduza ↗ Right · 1Reuters places the motion against Berlin's line: Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met Russia's Sergei Lavrov at the UN about two weeks earlier with no sign of progress, and Merz visited Kyiv at the weekend to reaffirm support, while German authorities accuse Russia of hybrid and drone attacks, which Moscow denies. The Straits TimesRC “Merz visited Kyiv at the weekend to reaffirm Berlin's support for Ukraine, while German authorities have accused Russia of carrying out a series of hybrid and drone attacks in Germany, something that Moscow denies.” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Meduza leads on the two parties' combined majority and the content of the resolution, including its call to lift sanctions and restore economic ties with Russia.
- Emphasis
- Resolution text, vote date, seat arithmetic, AfD gas talks with Gazprom.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Merz's Kyiv visit or the Wadephul-Lavrov meeting.
- Charged language
- “left-wing populist”
- For example
-
“Together, the parties hold a majority in Saxony-Anhalt’s state parliament following the election.” — Meduza
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Reuters copy carried by the Straits Times frames the motion as a symbolic gesture set against Berlin's continued support for Ukraine and failed diplomacy with Moscow.
- Emphasis
- Lack of policy impact, Siegmund's and Wagenknecht's statements, Merz and Wadephul context.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the resolution's detailed demands, seat counts or Gazprom talks.
- Charged language
- “far-right”“far-left”
- For example
-
“it underscores the AfD's strong push for an end to German support for Ukraine and a restoration of ties with Russia” — The Straits Times
What every side reports
- The AfD and BSW plan a joint motion in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament to end military support for Ukraine.
- The motion is symbolic because foreign policy is a federal responsibility.
- The AfD won the September Saxony-Anhalt election with its best-ever result.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether the AfD and BSW together hold a majority
- Left
- Meduza says the two parties together hold 44 of 83 seats, a majority in the state parliament.
- Right
- Reuters (via Straits Times) says the AfD fell just short of the majority needed to govern alone and has been exploring cooperation with the BSW.
Alternative for Germany party
Says the motion symbolises a desire for change and that it will press the Merz government to seek an end to the war and spend money at home.
“"This motion symbolises the desire for change," Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD leader in Saxony-Anhalt, said in a statement.” — The Straits Times
Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance party
Wagenknecht calls for a federal government that resumes dialogue with Moscow; representatives say local priorities should come before Kyiv.
“a federal government that finally makes an effort to resume dialogue with Moscow” — The Straits Times
“Germany needs policies that prioritize Köthen, a town in Saxony-Anhalt, over Kyiv.” — Meduza
East and Southeast Asia1 outlet
Carries Reuters' report focused on the motion's symbolic nature and the Berlin policy context.
“will have no immediate impact on Germany's foreign policy” — The Straits Times
The Straits Times
Europe1 outlet
Meduza stresses the combined majority and the resolution's pro-Russia-relations demands.
“Together with the Union for Social Justice, it holds 44 seats.” — Meduza
Meduza
Left1 article
-
MeduzaLC ·
Neutral Summarises Reuters and DW with added detail on the resolution's demands and the parties' combined seats.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
The Straits TimesRC · · via Reuters
Germany's AfD calls for end to support for Ukraine
Neutral Reuters wire copy presenting the motion as symbolic and contrasting it with the federal government's pro-Ukraine stance.
- 7 Oct 17:09 First The Straits TimesRC Germany's AfD calls for end to support for Ukraine via Reuters
- 7 Oct 22:06 +4h 57m MeduzaLC Germany’s far-right AfD and left-wing populist BSW party now hold a majority in an eastern state parliament. Their first joint proposal: End aid to Ukraine and restore ties with Russia.
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.