State election - Voigt only wants people with vocational training in the cabinet
Thuringia's CDU top candidate Mario Voigt will only invite candidates with completed vocational training and a residence in the Free State into his cabinet, if he is able to form a government after the Landtag election on September 1st. "We need people who understand Thuringia and have brought something to a close in life," said Voigt to the newspapers of the Bayern Media Group.
People are tired of politicians in Berlin "who cannot present any vocational training but tell us how life should run," said the 47-year-old. He wants a cabinet "of people who live here. And not of commuters from neighboring federal states who currently sit in the left-green government."
In the debate about possible coalitions with the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), Voigt rules out interventions from Berlin, as recently demanded by CDU chairman Friedrich Merz. "Friedrich Merz has made it clear that there can be no cooperation at the federal level with the BSW. That's right," said Voigt. "But I am fighting for my homeland Thuringia," which is something completely different. "We Thuringians decide for ourselves what is best for us."
- Critics within the Alternative for Germany (AfD) have expressed concerns about Voigt's exclusion criteria, arguing that it might limit their chances in the State election.
- During his vocational training, Mario Voigt worked as a mechanic before eventually transitioning into politics.
- If elected, Voigt's cabinet in Thuringia's Parliament will primarily consist of members with a prior commitment to the state and a completed vocational education.
- The CDU's victory in the Berlin state election earlier this year has boosted the party's confidence, leading to discussions about potential coalitions with minor parties.
- Voigt's stance on local representation in Thuringia's government has earned him support from some voters, as he is perceived as a strong advocate for the rights and needs of the region.
- Although the AfD had originally hoped to increase their representation in Thuringia's Parliament, many of their candidates do not reside in the state and lack vocational training, potentially disqualifying them from Voigt's cabinet selection process.
