Former Thuringian Minister-President Bodo Ramelow (Die Linke) has warned political parties in Saxony-Anhalt not to fall into a political trap set by the AfD (Alternative for Germany). According to Ramelow, if parties fail to maintain a clear, independent political course, the AfD can exploit that resulting uncertainty.
He pointed to the 2020 elections in Thuringia as a prime example of this danger. Ramelow explained that the AfD successfully lured other parties into a precarious situation and benefitted from the resulting confusion. He cautioned that this dynamic is likely to be attempted again in Saxony-Anhalt, adding that the BSW (Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht) is poised to open the door for it.
Ramelow specifically targeted the CDU (Christian Democratic Union). He stated that in his view, the party was currently heading toward a scenario where the AfD might obtain a governing mandate, and the CDU was perhaps hoping that it could redefine itself through taking on responsibility. Addressing the question of whether the CDU should field its own candidate for the Minister-Presidential election, the Vice President of the Bundestag asserted, “In Thuringia, it would certainly have been better in 2020 if the CDU had put forward a candidate. Then we would have avoided the chaos.”
