Thuringia's CDU prospect outlines prerequisites for dialogue with BSW.
He's interested in chatting with Katja Wolf, the prominent choice for Thuringia, following the election, Voigt mentioned. He'd be thrilled to share a seat with Mrs. Wolf to discuss Thuringian matters and potential resolutions. He firmly denies collaborating with the AfD. "Nobody will form a coalition with the AfD."
Similar to neighboring Saxony, Thuringia will see a new state legislature elected next Sunday. The election results are met with both excitement and worry. The AfD, identified as undeniably right-wing extremist by the local intelligence agency, tops polls with a strong 30%, significantly outpacing the other parties. The CDU follows at 21%, the BSW at 18-19%.
The Left, currently governing in a minority with the SPD and Greens, is anticipated to garner 13-16%. The SPD, meanwhile, hovers around 6-7%. According to polls, the Greens and FDP may fail to secure a seat in the Erfurt parliament.
Forming a coalition post-election appears to be a complex task. The CDU vetoes associations with the AfD, Left party, and Greens. The possibility of partnering with the BSW within the CDU is a topic of heated debate. While Voigt showed enthusiasm, the CDU's national chair initially rejected collaboration with the BSW, later clarifying that this applied exclusively at the federal level.
The BSW's federal chair, Wagenknecht, however, recently hinted at potential coalition promises from her party in the states hinging on conditions relative to foreign and defense policy. She revealed that the BSW would only join state governments that oppose plans to station US intermediate-range missiles in Germany in response to Russia's conflict with Ukraine.
CDU representatives condemned this as an attempt at "blackmail." Matters concerning foreign and security policy are not within the purview of the state government.
The CDU's stance on not collaborating with the AfD in Thuringia's government remains firm, despite the AfD's strong lead in the polls. The AfD, known for its right-wing extremist views, is expected to secure a significant 30% of the votes, making the AfD ['The AfD'] a prominent force in Thuringia's upcoming election.
