Following the regional elections in East Germany, The Left party has indicated a willingness to cooperate with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Ines Schwerdtner, the party leader, stated during an ARD broadcast report on the Left’s party conference that they have a responsibility to their voters due to their presence in the state parliaments. She emphasized that her party would work to ensure a state budget could be established and that cuts-particularly to democratic projects-would be avoided.
Currently, The Left is already collaborating with the minority governments led by the CDU in both Saxony and Thuringia. Schwerdtner noted the critical nature of this collaboration, saying, “It is up to us in The Left in Thuringia and Saxony to ensure that this system does not collapse.” Furthermore, she suggested that cooperation between The Left and the CDU might also be necessary after the regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
However, the political landscape remains complex, particularly given that Schwerdtners new co-chairman, Luigi Pantisano, recently accused the CDU of holding a fascist agenda. In response to these political challenges, Schwerdtner commented that “the wall of separation is crumbling.” Nevertheless, she urged her party to be “precise and clear” in its dealings with the CDU. “This is difficult, but we must accept the responsibility,” Schwerdtner concluded.
