Speaking to the “Handelsblatt” (Wednesday edition), Saxony’s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) urged for dialogue with all other parties in East Germany, given the current party alignments. He criticized anyone who still spoke of “firewalls,” stating that they had failed to recognize the signs of the times. Kretschmer insisted that communication should take place with anyone willing to engage.
This perspective contrasts with the national line. Federal CDU leader and Chairman Friedrich Merz had previously indicated during a summer press conference that the CDU would not cooperate with the AfD or The Left, citing corresponding decisions made at party congresses. Kretschmer, who serves as Vice-Chairman of the Federal CDU and manages a minority government in Saxony, noted that he had established a consultation mechanism in the state parliament that remains open to all factions.
Kretschmer specifically targeted the AfD, claiming they were the sole faction that initially stated they would not participate. He criticized them for aiming for the government’s failure, arguing that such a party ultimately harms the state.
Far from viewing the minority government setup as a burden, the Saxon Minister-President emphasized that the struggle for majorities is an inherent necessity of a democracy. He stressed that negotiation processes constitute the core of a democratic system. The CDU politician argued that actions such as excluding, silencing, or discrediting opinions-whether during the refugee crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, or climate protection policy-are fundamentally antithetical to democratic principles. Instead, he called for society to relearn the value of acknowledging and respecting diverse opinions and interests as a natural and valuable asset.
