The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has responded to the decision by Reiner Haseloff, Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt, not to seek re-election in the upcoming state elections. CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that this signals the end of an era. “Reiner Haseloff has served Saxony-Anhalt for years, first as a minister and since 2011 as Minister-President. We are greatly indebted to him for his successful work for the state and the party” Linnemann stated.
The party also expressed its approval that the state association has established clarity regarding its candidate for the election in September 2026. With Sven Schulze, a “strong successor” is ready to assume the position of Minister-President and ensure Saxony-Anhalt remains on a path to success. Schulze is described as being familiar with the region and its people and closely involved with key issues as a state minister. The federal party will support him fully in the election campaign, according to the CDU General Secretary. “It’s clear: stable conditions only exist with a very strong CDU and Saxony-Anhalt will continue to be well governed only with Sven Schulze.
Union parliamentary group vice-president Sepp Müller from Saxony-Anhalt commented to the newspaper that he welcomes Haseloff’s decision to nominate Schulze as the CDU’s top candidate. Schulze combines “experience, expertise and the necessary steadfastness to lead our state through challenging times”. He also expressed his gratitude to Reiner Haseloff “for his tireless commitment in recent years”, noting that Haseloff’s commitment to serve until the end of the legislative period, “demonstrates a principle of dignity in office that should not be sacrificed for tactical considerations – an important signal in uncertain times”.
