As the state election in Saxony-Anhalt approaches, CDU members of the State Parliament have begun discussing the prospect of a minority government for their party, which would involve seeking parliamentary support from either the AfD or the Left party.
According to Ulrich Thomas, the CDU parliamentary group’s spokesperson for economic policy, and Anja Schneider, its spokesperson for health policy, they are leaning towards this possibility if no clear majority emerges in the state parliament on September 6th.
Thomas emphasized a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach, stating, “I would talk to people about the substance: This is my position as CDU. If I can make it majority-capable in parliament with your votes?” He stressed that this pragmatic politics could occur even without a formal coalition agreement. While Thomas hopes that such cooperation could also challenge the AfD, he insists that strict red lines must be maintained if they ever participate in governance. These lines include Nato membership, relations with Russia, the transatlantic partnership, separation from radical elements, and a clear commitment to the European Union. He observed that the AfD contains two factions: “the radical right, who only want to destroy, and the moderate elements, including former CDU members, who also want to govern and want to be ministers.”
Schneider echoed this position, explaining that if a minority government were necessary, CDU parliamentarians would have to accept votes from the AfD or the Left on specific policy issues. However, she firmly stated that she has no support for the AfD’s core values.
However, CDU parliamentarian Tobias Krull, who is running in Magdeburg, holds a markedly different view. He told reporters that he “does not share the same opinion.” Krull asserted that the AfD’s goal is simply to cause failure. Unlike the Left, he believes there are no pragmatists within the AfD who genuinely wish to improve the state. Krull, who is the fraktion’s spokesperson for social policies, prefers governmental models similar to those in Thuringia and Saxony, though he conceded this would not be ideal.
Thomas, conversely, ruled out tolerating or making binding agreements with the Left, stating that doing so “would tear us apart, which would lead to a wave of resignations.” All three members are likely to be members of the new parliament.
It is important to note that in Thuringia and Saxony, CDU-led state governments frequently lack their own majority and rely on support from the Left. The Thuringian Prime Minister, Mario Voigt (CDU), has recently advocated for a pragmatic relationship with the Left. Meanwhile, following a 2018 decision by the CDU federal party convention, cooperation with the AfD is forbidden in these states. Furthermore, all three federal states have classified the AfD as demonstrably far-right by the federal domestic intelligence service.
