Nationalist candidate becomes German budget committee chair
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A member of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party has become chairman of the German parliament's important budget committee, winning lackluster backing after opponents forced a rare vote for the post.
Peter Boehringer was elected Wednesday with votes only from his own party and the pro-business Free Democrats. The opposition Left Party opposed him and representatives of other parties abstained.
Opponents objected to past comments on various issues by Boehringer, an opponent of the euro.
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Alternative for Germany, or AfD, is likely to be the biggest opposition party once a new government is formed. The budget committee post traditionally goes to the largest opposition group.
German lawmakers have blocked an AfD lawmaker from joining a committee that oversees the country's intelligence services and rejected the party's candidate for deputy speaker.