Political alignment and establishment of authority in Thuringia - Voigt expresses readiness for negotiations with Ramelow concerning the budget.
Voigt shows interest in dialogue with Ramelow over 2025 budget.
The leader of Thuringia's CDU, Mario Voigt, has expressed interest in having talks with Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Left) about the 2025 budget. Voigt mentioned during a gathering of the old and new CDU parliamentary group in the state parliament, "I like keeping an open mind, analyzing situations, and solving problems, and that's what we'll do now." When asked if he would be willing to dialogue with the current Minister President Ramelow, given the challenging political climate after the state election, Voigt replied, "I just found out that the 2025 budget has now been tasked to us. So, it's certainly something of interest to us as we move forward with our state."
Ramelow reaches out to CDU again.
Since the State Election on Sunday, Thuringia has been in a stalemate. A potential alliance between CDU, BSW, and SPD would only have 44 seats in the new parliament. A potential opposition from AfD and Left would also have 44 seats, leaving one vote short for a coalition between the rival parties. Ramelow has consistently outstretched his hand to the CDU. He stated during his interview with "Der Spiegel" that he had ruled out recommending a minority government for Thuringia, and a democratic majority in parliament is essential. When asked about the missing vote for a coalition of CDU, BSW, and SPD, he replied, "The vote is right there in front of you."
Budget proposal upcoming.
Ramelow had instructed Finance Minister Heike Taubert (SPD) to draft a budget proposal for 2025. This proposal should be presented during the cabinet meeting in Erfurt on Tuesday, where the budget proposal will be on the agenda. Taubert had set the estimated budget for 2025 at around €13 billion following the May tax estimate, which would put it at roughly the same level as this year.
Voigt stated on Tuesday that Thuringia requires a "stable future option," which they will now explore. He emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue.
After expressing interest in discussing the 2025 budget, Voigt mentioned the upcoming election to the Landtag as a point of interest, stating, "We will analyze the situation and solve the problems that come with it, as the responsibility for the 2025 budget now falls upon us."
Given the current political climate, it is crucial for Ramelow to maintain open lines of communication with Voigt, as the success of the budget proposal and the formation of a stable government may hinge on their ability to work together during the election to the Landtag.
