Saxony-Anhalt has a very ancient history, which dates back to the very dawn of the ‘German’ state. Since the rule of the Ottonians in the 10th century, the area has been an important backdrop against which the history of the ‘Empire’ established during that period – the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation – was played out.
The state of Saxony-Anhalt first emerged in its present form between 1947 and 1952. In the aftermath of the Second World War, and as part of the restructuring of the Soviet zone of occupation, it was created as one of five states, and comprised the former Prussian province of Saxony, the state of Anhalt, and a few smaller territories which had previously belonged to Brunswick and Thuringia. The state of Saxony-Anhalt was dissolved once again in the GDR era, with the districts of Halle and Magdeburg taking its place.
Since German reunification in 1990, Saxony-Anhalt has been one of 16 federal states with its own parliament, which is elected every five years by its citizens.
The elections to the present State Parliament were held on 26 March 2006.
Results of the parliamentary election in Saxony-Anhalt on 26 March 2006
(in German).
Distribution of seats:
Party | Parliamentary elections of 26/3/2006 Turnout: 44.4 percent | |
| Party votes | Number of seats |
CDU (Christian Democratic Union) | 36.2 percent | 40 |
PDS (Party of Democratic Socialism) | 24.1 percent | 26 |
SPD (Social Democratic Party) | 21.4 percent | 24 |
FDP (Free Democratic Party) | 6.7 percent | 7 |
The President of the State Parliament is Dieter Steinecke (CDU).
The Government
The Government of Saxony-Anhalt has been formed by a coalition of CDU and SPD.
The Minister-President is Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Böhmer (CDU).
