Statt Sachsen-Anhalt – Rheinland-Pfalz nach Schulze-Brief an Spitze der Ministerpräsidentenkonferenz

Saxony-Anhalt was scheduled to take over the chair of the Ministerpräsidentenkonferenz (MPK), a key coordination body for Germany's federal states, in October. After the AfD's recent election win in Saxony-Anhalt, the state's CDU Minister-President Sven Schulze wrote to his counterpart in Rhineland-Palatinate, Gordon Schnieder, to decline the chairmanship. The other state leaders agreed, so Rhineland-Palatinate will continue as chair for another year.

This decision affects how Germany's states coordinate on national policy, especially at a time when the rise of the AfD is causing political shifts. The chair of the MPK has significant influence over which topics are discussed and how the states present themselves to the federal government and the public. By keeping the chair in Rhineland-Palatinate, the states aim to ensure stability and continuity in their coordination, avoiding potential complications from the political situation in Saxony-Anhalt.

The MPK is an informal body for the German states to coordinate policy and present a united front to the federal government. The chairmanship rotates among the states each year. After the AfD won the most recent state election in Saxony-Anhalt, concerns arose about the implications of an AfD-led state holding the MPK chair. Sven Schulze, the outgoing CDU Minister-President, decided to forgo the chairmanship, and the other states agreed to let Rhineland-Palatinate continue. Legal experts note that this change in rotation is allowed because the MPK is not a formal constitutional organ.

Rhineland-Palatinate will lead the MPK for another year, and Schleswig-Holstein is expected to take over in October 2027. Observers will watch how the states manage coordination and whether further changes to the MPK process are considered as political dynamics evolve.