The potential for a minority government at the federal level is raising serious concerns, according to Saxony’s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer. As deputy chairman of the CDU, Kretschmer, who leads a minority government in Dresden through a coalition with the SPD, voiced skepticism regarding the viability of such a model for the nation as a whole, speaking to the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers.
Kretschmer emphasized that Germany requires stability, decisive majorities and the capacity for swift action, particularly given the complex geopolitical and economic challenges currently facing the country. While acknowledging that a minority government “can” function – citing his own experience in Saxony, where dialogue prevails despite ideological differences – he stressed that the conditions unique to Saxony cannot be universally applied. The state’s success, he suggested, is an exception, not a rule.
Addressing the potential for reform within a hypothetical black-red (CDU-SPD) federal coalition, Kretschmer offered a pointed critique. “They haven’t proven it yet” he stated, implicitly questioning the current government’s ability to effectively enact necessary policy changes.
His most pointed warning focused on the urgency of regulatory reform. “Time is running out” Kretschmer declared, urging the government to recognize that its success and ultimately the future of Germany, hinges on a commitment to deregulation. The statement signals a growing disconnect within the political landscape and highlights the CDU’s escalating pressure on the ruling coalition to adopt a more proactive and economically liberal stance. The implicit suggestion is that continued inaction risks jeopardizing Germany’s long-term competitiveness and stability.
