A leading figure within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is calling for a renewed sense of pride and confidence among citizens of eastern Germany. Speaking to the Tagesspiegel, Sven Schulze, who aspires to become Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt in 2026, suggests the prevailing discontent in the region is rooted more in uncertainty than outright dissatisfaction.
Schulze attributes this feeling to a series of transformative events experienced over the past decades, from the collapse of East Germany to recent global disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and shifts in US policy. He observes that eastern Germany is particularly susceptible to feeling the impact of these changes, citing the volatility of energy prices as a prime example.
Ahead of the Day of German Unity on October 3rd, Schulze emphasized the importance of self-assurance. He stated that residents of eastern Germany should cultivate a greater sense of self-respect and acknowledge the remarkable ability of the population to adapt and reinvent itself following profound political upheaval. He expressed frustration with a perceived lack of recognition in western Germany regarding the achievements and contributions of eastern Germany, particularly highlighting the fulfillment of the desire for free elections, a right previously unavailable in East Germany.
Responding to concerns about potential political alignments, Schulze definitively ruled out any coalition with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He asserted his commitment to preventing Saxony-Anhalt from becoming a testing ground for political experimentation and reaffirmed that his home state would not be utilized as an arena for the AfD’s agenda under any circumstances.
