Mario Voigt has been re-elected as the chair of the CDU Thuringen at the state party convention held in Eisenach. He secured 84.41% of the votes, garnering 122 “yes” votes while only 23 delegates voted against him, with three abstentions recorded. Furthermore, he won this position without any direct competitors.
Previously, Voigt had maintained a positive assessment of the so-called ‘Blackcurrant Coalition,’ which comprises the CDU, BSW, and SPD. He highlighted that the state government focuses on providing solutions rather than generating noise, citing efforts such as billions of euros invested in municipalities and increased support for volunteer services as evidence of this progress. Voigt once again dismissed the allegations of plagiarism against his doctoral dissertation, announcing his intention to legally challenge any revocation of his doctoral title.
He cited an internal dilemma, noting the conflict between defending his academic work and recognizing that political opponents have effectively used the matter for attacks. The AfD parliamentary group has applied for a vote of no confidence against Voigt, which is scheduled to take place in the state parliament this coming Friday. Recently, the BSW at the federal level called upon its Thuringian state party to break its coalition, a call which the state executive board rejected, although two members of parliament did support the federal party’s directive.
Voigt has led the CDU in Thuringen since 2022 and has served as Minister President since 2024. His coalition does not hold a majority in the state parliament, commanding only 44 out of 88 votes.
