Merz aligns with the progressive side yet allows for flexibility in national policies.
The duty of handling this matter falls on the state associations in Saxony and Thuringia, according to Merz, discussing the incompatibility issue. Merz, in response to a question, didn't provide a clear answer if the party congress decision made it impossible for the Left to support a CDU-led minority government in Thuringia. He remarked, "Things are in a state of change," and couldn't predict the future developments.
The CDU Germany congress decision in December 2018 declared, "The CDU rejects cooperations with the Left Party and Alternative for Germany, including coalitions." This stance has remained consistent.
Cretschmer, the Saxony's Minister President (CDU), clarified at the shared press conference with Merz that the Left and AfD are not equivalent. He cited their positive experiences with Bodo Ramelow, the Left's Thuringia's Minister President, in recent years. Although a Left Party coalition is off the table for the CDU, a "point-by-point cooperation" is viable.
In the future Thuringian parliament, a CDU-led minority government might require Left's support. Voigt, the CDU Thuringia chairman, did not dismiss this model during the press conference at the CDU federal headquarters in Berlin.
Voigt stated, "We are aiming for a CDU-led government." He expressed his intention to consider the possibilities available under such challenging circumstances. First, the CDU will engage in discussions with the SPD and BSW. After evaluating the common ground, they will decide their further steps. However, such a three-party alliance would only possess 44 out of the 88 seats in the new Thuringian parliament, falling one seat short of a majority.
The European Union may express concern if the CDU considers a coalition or point-by-point cooperation with the Left Party, given the CDU's previous stance against working with Left-leaning parties, as declared at their 2018 congress. The European Union, being committed to democratic values and stable governments, might find such an alliance challenging, considering the EU-critical stance of the Left Party.
