The CDU deliberates on its stance regarding incompatibility issues
For quite some time, the Christian Democrats have held firm on their refusal to collaborate with neither the AfD nor the Left Party. However, following the election outcomes in Saxony and Thuringia, former CDU secretary-general Mario Czaja has suggested reconsidering this stance. "It's ludicrous that we have this ban and we won't work with the pragmatic Left," Czaja expressed to the German editorial network. "The fact is that the Left in eastern Germany is essentially a conservative social democracy with an eastern twist," he continued, a CDU representative in the Bundestag. "The CDU has maneuvered itself into a tight spot with its faulty interpretation of the horseshoe theory. We need to break free from that."
Czaja, originating from eastern Germany, cautioned against linking the Left Party with the AfD as it belittles their "contempt for people and the ideology of the AfD."; "Underneath that façade is a party that's under constant surveillance by the constitutional protection, starting from Thuringia," the CDU member warned. "That cannot be compared to a Left Party led by Bodo Ramelow, who served as the Bundesrat president. Bodo Ramelow never posed a threat to democracy. Bjorn Hoecke does."
CDU faction manager Thorsten Frei, seen as a confidant of CDU leader Friedrich Merz, reaffirms his party's resolution against collaborating with the Left Party. "We have a firm resolution as a federal party, and the entire party is bound by that. No cooperation with AfD and Left," Frei stated upon arriving for his party's faction meetings in Berlin. At the same time, he found common ground with Sahra Wagenknecht's alliance, which the CDU necessitates for forming a government without the AfD in Saxony and Thuringia. In Thuringia, the CDU may rely on votes from the Left as well.
Kretschmer mulls alliance with SPD and BSW
Saxon Minister-President Michael Kretschmer also dismisses "party ideologies."; "We're focusing on content," the CDU politician asserted on the election's morning after in Deutschlandfunk. Kretschmer believes a coalition with the SPD and the BSW, which only recently formed, is a possibility. "We're not allying with Frau Wagenknecht, but with individuals elected to the Saxon state parliament," Kretschmer mentioned. Although this won't be simple and will take some time, it's possible, Kretschmer said.
The CDU had adopted a resolution against collaborating with the AfD and the Left. Officially, though, this does not encompass the BSW, which just came into existence in January of this year. The majority of BSW's founding members, however, were former Left Party members, and Sahra Wagenknecht served as the party's communist platform figurehead for nearly 20 years, classified as a left-wing extremist.
Voigt exhibits openness
"I aim to serve this country, I aim to bring a stable government to this country," Voigt reiterated, but the path wouldn't be easy and could involve negotiations with potential coalition partners for months. "First, it's important to take a breather and be delighted that we've managed to form a stable government in Saxony," the CDU's top candidate in Thuringia said. The CDU is hardly at the stage for coalition negotiations. When the right time comes, their "moral compass" will be tabled, and then conversations will commence.
Regarding dealing with the AfD, Kretschmer suggested steering clear of the term "firewall," as the party uses this term for its own purposes. "The AfD is adept at portraying itself as a victim," the Minister President stated. This resonates with a portion of the electorate. Such terms don't improve the situation. The AfD is "a regular opposition party with all the rights and responsibilities," added Kretschmer.
Mario Voigt, the CDU's top candidate in Thuringia, does not dismiss the prospect of collaborating with the Left Party in light of the election outcomes. When interviewed by Bild, Voigt said, "We'll await the official final result and then discuss it in our upcoming committees." Previously, the Left Party in Thuringia had offered to tolerate a CDU minority government.
In light of the election outcomes, Marco Voigt, the CDU's top candidate in Thuringia, is open to discussing potential cooperation with the Left Party, stating, "We'll await the official final result and then discuss it in our upcoming committees." Contrastingly, CDU faction manager Thorsten Frei reaffirms the party's resolution against collaborating with the Left Party, asserting, "We have a firm resolution as a federal party, and the entire party is bound by that. No cooperation with AfD and Left."
