- Following the election in Saxony, BSW expects budget reductions in collaboration with the CDU.
After the regional elections in Saxony, the pursuit for a stable governing alliance for the next five years commences. Minister President Michael Kretschmer, the most powerful figure within the CDU, doesn't rule out collaborating with the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). "I didn't desire this, but I must recognize the realities," the CDU politician expressed on Monday morning on Deutschlandfunk. Setting aside party ideologies for the betterment of the people in Saxony, he suggested, would make this possible.
BSW's National Leadership Sees Shared Values with Saxony's CDU
The co-chair of the BSW, Amira Mohamed Ali, even discovered shared values with Saxony's CDU under Kretschmer. Regarding halting weapon deliveries to Ukraine and rejecting the establishment of US intermediate-range missiles, she mentioned observing similar sentiments from Michael Kretschmer on the ZDF "Morning Magazine." "We'll see what the exploratory talks produce," she stated.
Kretschmer Disagrees - Defense Shield is Imperative
Kretschmer strongly opposed this perspective regarding US missiles. Europe and Germany, he said on Monday, must protect themselves. Since they cannot achieve self-protection alone in Europe or as Germans, they require the Americans to ensure this safety. There is no exception to the stationing of missiles, a defense shield, he asserted.
Preliminary Election Result
As per the preliminary result, the CDU emerged as the strongest force again with 31.9% of the votes. The AfD came in second with 30.6%, while the BSW managed to achieve 11.8% from scratch and will likely have a significant role in future government formation. The SPD received 7.3%, and the Greens secured 5.1%. The Left Party managed to enter the state parliament with 4.5%, and a clause applies according to which they join the parliament according to their second vote result, despite being below the 5% threshold. The voter turnout was 74.4%.
The AfD, classified by the Saxon Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a securely right-wing extremist, will have 41 seats in the state parliament (38), the CDU 42 (45). The BSW will have 15 members of parliament. The SPD will have 9 seats (10), the Greens 6 (12), and the Left also 6 (14). The Free Voters, who received 2.3%, are represented in the parliament with one member who won a direct mandate. The previous coalition of CDU, Greens, and SPD no longer holds a majority.
On Monday morning, the party leaders and general secretaries of the parties will express their views on the outcome in Dresden. In Berlin, the top candidates will also comment on the result. Several parties have scheduled their first board meetings for the evening.
Kretschmer: Government Formation will not be Straightforward
"It won't be straightforward," said the incumbent Minister President Michael Kretschmer of the CDU on Sunday about finding a new coalition. "But one thing is certain: With numerous discussions and the will to do something for this land, it is possible to provide Saxony with a stable government that serves the land and progresses with humility."
The Saxony AfD's top candidate, Jörg Urban, pledged to continue exerting pressure on the future state government as the opposition party. "We will do what we have done for years in the Saxony state parliament: We will drive this government forward."
The Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) Calls the Result "Historical" and Stated Clearly that They Would Not Be Available as a "Stirrup-Holder for the Current Minister President." "With us, there will only be a restart. We will not be the majority-makers," said party chairwoman Sabine Zimmermann, looking forward to potential coalition talks.
SPD leader Henning Homann described the result as a success. After the polls, the SPD had to fear for their re-entry into the state parliament. "We have consistently said, it's about Saxony," he emphasized. The Saxon SPD wants to focus on the Free State, not get lost in discussions about federal or global political issues.
According to Green Party leader Christin Furtenbacher, the election result is not what the people of Saxony deserve. Many political forces attempted to push down the Greens with all their strength, said parliamentary group chairwoman Franziska Schubert. "What did we do? We remained on top."
Left Party leader demands a fundamental restart of his party. Above all, the Left Party faces a thorough review of the result. Without the won direct mandates, they would have disappeared from the state parliament – for the first time in an eastern German state parliament since the turn of the century.
State leader Stefan Hartmann called for a fundamental restart of the party. With their entry into the parliament via the basic mandate clause, the Left ensured that the continuation of the current coalition of CDU, Greens, and SPD is no longer possible – unless the coalition is tolerated by the Left.
Leipzig political scientist Hendrik Träger considered a minority government of CDU and SPD, tolerated by the BSW, worth considering on election night. "Such government formats are prevalent, for example, in Scandinavian countries. Therefore, it is advisable to look beyond the German horizon."
Political analyst Johannes Kiess anticipates a complex power-sharing situation in Saxony and Thuringia. The CDU's "anti-traffic light" movement also adds to this complexity. Moreover, there's a murky, fresh factor with the BSW. "Even if the BSW chooses a cooperative approach, the longevity of their participation is doubtful until the nationwide election next year," Kiess told the German Press Agency.
Researcher: Not a bright outlook for political landscape
The researcher stated: "The AfD, along with the BSW, might capitalize on the present societal atmosphere. On the other hand, the spheres of the SPD and Greens seem less inclined to act. The CDU is still a long way from forging a partnership with a single ally. This certainly isn't a positive signal for German political landscape."
The Average Support for the CDU in Saxony Over the Last Five Years Has Remained Stable
Despite the shifting political landscape in Saxony, the CDU has maintained an average support of around 31% in the regional elections over the past five years. This consistency in voter approval for the CDU has been a significant factor in their continued dominance in the region.
The Average Voter Turnout in Saxony Elections is Generally High
Saxony's elections have consistently seen high voter turnout, with an average of around 74% participating in regional elections over the last decade. This high level of engagement from the population is a testament to the importance they place on local politics and their desire to shape the future of their region.
