Thuringia: No-Confidence Vote for Minister President Voigt After Doctorate Revoked

by Chief Editor

Thuringia’s Minister President Mario Voigt (CDU) faces a vote of no confidence following the revocation of his doctoral title. The state parliament in Erfurt will convene at 2:00 PM local time to decide Voigt’s future as state leader. The motion was brought forward by the AfD parliamentary group, with its state and parliamentary leader Björn Höcke challenging Voigt.

The Technical University of Chemnitz announced last week that it was revoking Voigt’s doctorate. According to Voigt’s lawyers, the allegations center on claims that Voigt did not evaluate cited sources in their original form, but instead adopted them uncritically from secondary literature. Voigt is pursuing legal action against the revocation of his title. The university states the doctoral title can remain in effect until a final ruling is reached.

Björn Höcke Lacks 13 Votes for Majority

According to state law, the state parliament can only express distrust in the Minister President by electing a successor with a majority of its members. Only Höcke will appear on the ballot, and he would need 45 votes to oust Voigt. His parliamentary group holds 32 of the 88 seats in parliament. There will be only one round of voting, and the ballot is secret. Aside from the AfD, the leaders of the other parliamentary groups have announced they will not vote for Höcke.

Did You Know? In 2021, the Thuringian AfD initiated a vote of no confidence against then-Minister President Bodo Ramelow (The Left), which ultimately failed.

Voigt leads Thuringia’s only so-called “blackberry coalition” – a government comprised of the CDU, BSW, and SPD – which does not have a majority in parliament. The state parliament is currently in a stalemate between the governing coalition and the opposition, which includes the AfD and The Left.

The Thuringian AfD is classified by the state’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a confirmed right-wing extremist organization and is under observation.

Expert Insight: A vote of no confidence is a significant test for any leader, but in this case, the outcome is particularly complex given the fragmented political landscape in Thuringia. The fact that the motion comes from a party classified as right-wing extremist adds another layer of political sensitivity to the situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What prompted the vote of no confidence?

The vote of no confidence was prompted by the revocation of Mario Voigt’s doctoral title by the Technical University of Chemnitz, following allegations of plagiarism.

How many votes does Björn Höcke need to succeed?

Björn Höcke needs 45 votes to oust Mario Voigt, as the state constitution requires a majority of members to elect a successor when expressing distrust in the Minister President.

What is a “blackberry coalition”?

A “blackberry coalition” refers to the current governing coalition in Thuringia, comprised of the CDU, BSW, and SPD.

Given the current parliamentary composition and stated positions of other parties, what factors could unexpectedly influence the outcome of the vote of no confidence?

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