- Legislator: Uniting against authoritarianism
Regarding the forthcoming state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, Hamburg's Minister of Justice Anna Gallina encourages all democrats to join forces against fascism. Simultaneously, the Green politician criticized CDU chairman Friedrich Merz for populism. "Amazing! Instead of tackling fascists, they indulge in crass, selfish populism," Gallina posted on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
Merz: The administration is losing grip on the nation
Previously, Merz had posted: "When a federal chancellor loses hold of the government, eventually the government loses control of the entire nation. You can observe it in the polls: In Thuringia and Saxony, all three traffic light parties are grappling with the 5% threshold. As a citizen of this country, I have no delight in that."
Gallina retorted: "Thuringia and Saxony are pivotal! Democrats should always be close and capable of standing united against fascism."
Merz clarified in Erfurt on Thursday that, in accordance with the unanimous consensus of the federal CDU and all its state associations, there would be no collaboration with the AfD. "The pledge remains. We will not comply," Merz asserted at a joint election campaign appearance with Thuringia's CDU top candidate Mario Voigt.
Traffic light parties at 5 percent in polls
As per a recent Forsa poll, the CDU would be the most powerful force in Saxony on September 1 with 33 percent, followed by the AfD with 30 percent and the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) with 13 percent. SPD and Greens would each achieve 6 percent to enter the state parliament, while the Left would be at 3 percent and thus no longer represented. Other parties would reach 9 percent, including the FDP with less than 3 percent.
In Thuringia, the AfD is currently the most powerful party with 30 percent. The CDU comes second with 21 percent and the BSW with 18. The Left, which has so far been represented by Bodo Ramelow as Minister President, is at 13 percent in the poll. The SPD would enter the state parliament with 7 percent, while the Greens would miss this target with 4 percent. Other parties would reach 7 percent, including the FDP with less than 3 percent.
Merz's criticism towards the "traffic light parties" struggling with the 5% threshold in Thuringia and Saxony is seen as misplaced by Gallina, who emphasizes the importance of standing united against fascism in these pivotal regions. Despite Merz's assertion that the CDU will not collaborate with the AfD, the far-right party is gaining significant support in both states, posing a challenge to democrats.
