Bavaria’s Minister-President and CSU leader, Markus Söder, anticipates a strong performance from CDU Minister-President Sven Schulze ahead of the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday edition), Söder praised Schulze as a powerful head of government and subsequently advocated for pragmatic solutions following the election.
Söder suggested that even without a clear majority, Schulze could form a “good and constructive government.” He noted that this might require compromises with parties that “would normally make all of us extremely nervous,” according to the CSU politician.
The Bavarian Minister-President stressed the difference between federal and regional politics, particularly concerning potential CDU cooperation with the Left party. While demanding “stable and clear majorities” at the federal level, he argued that in the states, the priority is simply getting a budget passed through the parliament. He cited Saxony and Thuringia as examples where this was achieved without issue, suggesting that the same outcome could be reached in Saxony-Anhalt. Söder concluded by stating, “Everyone in Saxony-Anhalt knows what the hour requires.”
Furthermore, he observed that voters are grappling with whether the German democracy is experiencing a historical turning point, potentially seeing radical forces gain dominance for the first time since the post-war period. Nevertheless, Söder remained optimistic. While many people found the politics worrying, he noted they felt the gravity of “what a sole responsibility of the AfD would mean.”
Söder rejected the idea that a victory for the AfD in the state finance equalization process should lead to consequences. While recognizing that reform is “long overdue,” he insisted it should not function as a punitive measure for specific voting behaviors. In his view, “the willingness to implement reforms should not depend on who is elected in a democracy.”
