Sven Schulze, the Minister President of Saxony-Anhalt, has stated he is cautious regarding the demands for a ban on the AfD. Speaking to the TV broadcaster “Welt” on Monday, the CDU’s top candidate emphasized that his primary goal is to defeat the AfD in elections.
Schulze added that he cannot give a final judgment because he is neither a legal expert nor has had the time in recent weeks and months to fully study the matter. While the situation is currently difficult, he believes the correct approach is “to talk to the people.” He confirmed that he will only comment on a potential banning procedure once he has thoroughly investigated it. For now, his focus remains on elections: “I want to defeat the AfD-just like all other political competitors-in elections. I ask for every bit of support for myself and for the CDU.” However, he noted that the debate over potential bans will surely continue in the long term, even within the CDU.
Furthermore, Schulze warned that the AfD and the BSW (Alliance for Sustainability/Balance) are merely using Saxony-Anhalt as a stepping stone to expand their personal political base in Berlin. He clarified that an absolute majority for the AfD or tolerated accommodation from the BSW would precisely reflect this manipulation. “Then it would mean that Ms. Weidel from Switzerland and Ms. Wagenknecht from Saarland are exploiting our home state, Saxony-Anhalt, to gain more influence in Berlin. I do not want that.” He emphasized the need for voters to cast both the first and second votes if they want to prevent any single party from gaining absolute majority power and subsequently exploiting the region to win influence in the federal capital. “I do not want my home state of Saxony-Anhalt to become a testing ground here in Germany.”
