Shida Bazyar Wins German Book Prize; AfD Politician Elected State Parliament President in Saxony-Anhalt

Shida Bazyar has won the Deutscher Buchpreis (German Book Prize). The award news emerged on the same day that political shifts occurred in Germany, including a landmark election in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. In that state parliament, Tobias Rausch became the first AfD politician elected as Landtagspräsident (state parliament president). The development means a far-right politician now presides over a state legislature. Although the role of Landtagspräsident is largely representative in public perception, the position carries significant procedural power within parliament: the officeholder serves as session chair, distributes formal reprimands (Ordnungsrufe), can withdraw speaking rights from members of parliament, and may exclude them from sessions. The Freitag newsletter "Endlich Freitag!" provided this overview of the day's events, noting that politically much had shifted. The newsletter is produced directly by the Freitag editorial team and is available for subscription. The summary also referenced Friedrich Merz in its framing about artificial intelligence and the highest political office, though the provided text does not elaborate on that point.