- The House of Representatives has voted against the AfD
The Presidents of the three Chambers of Industry and Commerce in Thuringia have warned against the AfD and are counting on a stable government coalition after the state election. "We certainly don't want the AfD in a leading role in Thuringia," said Ralf-Uwe Bauer, President of the IHK Ostthuringia. He described the party's positions as "economy-hostile". Even the President of the IHK Erfurt, Dieter Bauhaus, said that the party does not offer solutions, but only paints simple ones on the ceiling.
Just a few days ago, Thuringia's Interior Minister and SPD top candidate Georg Maier accused parts of Thuringia's economy of supporting the AfD. The Association of Thuringia's Economy had denied this and referred to campaigns for openness to the world.
President: CDU should reconcile with BSW
Looking at current opinion polls, Bauhaus called on the CDU to consider a coalition with the Alliance for Progress and Social Justice (BSW). Together with the SPD, this would currently give a majority. "The CDU now has to try to make a viable state policy with the BSW. If I build more walls, I'll end up in the canal and let the lid drop. Then I'm gone."
According to a recent survey by the Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, CDU, BSW, and SPD would have a narrow majority in the state. Since the CDU currently excludes coalitions with both the Left and the AfD, this would be the only conceivable constellation. So far, CDU leader Mario Voigt has not clearly expressed himself on possible coalitions with the BSW.
The economic representatives are hoping for a new state government to restart education policy. The current government was criticized by the President of the IHK Südthuringia, Torsten Herrmann, as a "complete failure". In addition, there needs to be swift bureaucratic reduction or more targeted promotion policy.
The CDU, being one of the potential coalition partners in Thuringia, should consider reconciliation with the Alliance for Progress and Social Justice (BSW) as suggested by Bauhaus, given their current poll standings and the need for a viable state policy. The CDU, excluding coalitions with the Left and the AfD, could form a government with the BSW and SPD, as indicated by the recent Forschungsgruppe Wahlen survey.
