Saxony's Greens face backlash after accidental alliance with far-right AfD
A controversial vote in Saxony’s parliament has sparked political fallout after the Greens, the AfD, and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) unexpectedly formed a majority. The decision to lower meat inspection fees at small slaughterhouses led to sharp criticism from rival parties and internal reflections within the Greens.
At the centre of the dispute, the Greens admitted responsibility for the outcome but insisted they had not actively pursued the alliance.
The vote began with both the AfD and the BSW opposing the Greens’ proposal to reduce fees for meat inspections. However, a shift in positions saw the three parties align, securing a narrow majority in favour of the measure.
Franziska Schubert, leader of the Green faction, later expressed disappointment over how the majority had formed. Co-leader Felix Banaszak called the joint vote with the AfD 'highly regrettable'. The Greens quickly pledged to adjust their parliamentary coordination to avoid similar situations in the future. The Free Democrats (FDP) condemned the Greens for working with the AfD, while Jörg Urban, the AfD’s state leader, declared the vote a victory and labelled the Christian Democrats (CDU) the 'losers'. Sahra Wagenknecht, leader of the BSW, dismissed the backlash as 'hysterical' and argued that the long-standing 'undemocratic firewall' against the AfD had now collapsed. The AfD reinforced this claim, asserting that the vote marked the end of efforts to exclude them from political cooperation.
The Greens have committed to tightening their internal processes to prevent future reliance on the AfD for majorities. Meanwhile, the AfD and BSW have framed the event as proof that political barriers against them are weakening. The vote’s outcome leaves Saxony’s parliamentary dynamics under renewed scrutiny.
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