Elections - AfD and BSW together at almost 50 percent in Thuringia
Two and a half months before the Thuringia state election, a difficult government formation is taking shape there. In a survey published on Tuesday by the Infratest dimap research institute on behalf of MDR, the AfD is in the lead with 28 percent, and together with the BSW (21 percent), they almost reach half of the votes. CDU (23 percent), SPD (7 percent), and the Left (11 percent) trail behind with a combined total of 41 percent. The Greens and FDP would not be represented in the parliament anymore.
BSW plays decisive role
Since all other parties have excluded a coalition with the AfD so far, a government formation involving the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) is the only viable option, given the current standings. The CDU has not ruled this out. SPD parliamentary group leader Katja Mast refused to comment on this during her visit to Cottbus on Tuesday. "This question is not relevant at the moment," she said. The surveys are snapshots. Currently, a red-red-green coalition is governing in Thuringia under the leadership of the Left.
Ost-Ministerpresidents and Scholz discuss European election
The new survey results were made public just before the conference of the Ost-Ministerpresidents, which took place on Thursday afternoon in Lutherstadt Wittenberg in Saxony-Anhalt. During this meeting, they were expected to discuss the results of the European election, in which the AfD became the strongest force in all five eastern German federal states despite all personnel disputes and espionage allegations. Similar results are now expected for the state elections in Thuringia and Saxony on September 1st and in Brandenburg on September 22nd.
Haseloff calls for consequences for migration policy
Saxony-Anhalt's Minister President Reiner Haseloff (CDU) called the results a "Supergau." "This is a wake-up call that urges us to address the causes here at the Ost-Ministerpresidents' conference," said the CDU politician in the ARD "Morgenmagazin." There has never been such dissatisfaction with the federal government and Europe before. Haseloff demanded clear changes, especially in migration policy, but also in industrial policy. "This cannot continue." Scholz has understood that as well.
Schwesig demands better healthcare in the east
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Governor Manuela Schwesig (SPD) demanded that Scholz (SPD) pay more attention to eastern concerns. "The last elections have shown that people in Eastern Germany are very dissatisfied," said Schwesig in response to a query from the German Press Agency. A crucial issue for the people is comprehensive healthcare coverage. The healthcare reform with the flat-rate benefits is moving in the right direction, but rural areas need to be taken into account more. "You cannot achieve the same case numbers in rural areas as in urban agglomerations," said Schwesig. Healthcare, the European election, the reform of the nursing care insurance, and economic and energy policy are on the agenda of the meeting in Wittenberg.
Wagenknecht holds minister-presidents responsible for poor mood
Wagenknecht accused the minister-presidents of being responsible for the poor mood. "You have been in power for years and have done nothing to improve the lives of the people in the east," she said in an interview with the "Bild" newspaper. "The people are tired of being treated as second-class citizens." The AfD's success was a result of this frustration. Wagenknecht also criticized the CDU and SPD for their handling of the energy transition, which she believes has caused economic hardship in the east. She called for a more balanced approach to the energy transition and more investment in the region.
Founder of the BSW, Wagenknecht held the Minister-Presidents of the eastern federal states accountable for the dissatisfaction of their voters. "The discontent of East Germans is not only due to the federal government, but also to the East Minister-Presidents," said the chairwoman. "They have extracted too little in the last few years and hardly stopped anything senseless that came from Berlin."
Wagenknecht accused the Minister-Presidents of being "too submissive" towards the federal government in comparison to many state leaders in the west. "This was particularly evident in the Corona time. But even on the issues of refugee policy, energy, and pensions, the East Minister-Presidents were unable to represent their citizens adequately against the Chancellor," thought the BSW head.
- The upcoming Thuringia state election is shaping up to be challenging for a smooth government formation, as the AFD leads with 28% and, combined with BSW (21%), nearly reach half of the votes.
- The current standings suggest that a coalition involving the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) could be the only viable option for government formation, with CDU not completely ruling this out.
- SPD parliamentary group leader Katja Mast remained silent on the potential coalition with BSW during her Cottbus visit, stating that the question is not relevant at the moment.
- The survey results were released just before the Ost-Ministerpresidents conference in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Saxony-Anhalt, where they discussed the European election results, in which the AfD was the strongest force in all five eastern states.
- Saxony-Anhalt Minister President Reiner Haseloff (CDU) declared the survey results as a "Supergau" and demanded reforms, particularly in migration and industrial policy, following growing dissatisfaction.
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Governor Manuela Schwesig (SPD) urged Scholz to pay more attention to eastern concerns, citing comprehensive healthcare coverage as a crucial issue for the people in Eastern Germany.
- Wagenknecht criticized the eastern Minister-Presidents for not doing enough to improve East Germans' lives and held them accountable for the region's discontent.
- According to Wagenknecht, the discontent of East Germans is not solely blamed on the federal government but also on the eastern Minister-Presidents who have not addressed the needs of their voters adequately.
- Wagenknecht accused the eastern Minister-Presidents of being too submissive compared to their western counterparts in handling issues like Corona, refugee policy, energy, and pensions, failing to represent their citizens effectively against the Chancellor.
- The SPD, Greens, and FDP may not be represented in the Thuringia parliament if survey results remain accurate in the upcoming state elections in Thuringia, Saxony, Brandenburg, and potential Federal Government reforms.
- A red-red-green coalition governs Thuringia currently under the leadership of the Left, and the state elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg are expected to display similar results as the European election, with the AfD being the strongest force.
