- Voigt secures position in CDU through government appointment
Thuringia's CDU boss Mario Voigt views the initial election results in the state as a mandate for forming a government with the Christian Democrats. "We see this as a chance for political transformation under the CDU's leadership," stated the 47-year-old in Erfurt after the first projections. The CDU came second behind the AfD.
Voigt expressed his desire for discussions to establish a "reasonable government under the CDU's leadership" in Thuringia. He declared his plan to engage with the SPD and its leader, Georg Maier.
Regarding the Alliance for Progress and Socialism (APS), he mentioned: "We're open to dialogue with them as well." However, international politics aren't decided in the Thuringian parliament. It's all about tackling local issues that matter to the people. The APS recently indicated, among other things, that the rejection of US intermediate-range missiles is a necessity for participation in the government.
No coalition or collaboration with the AfD - no reference to the Left
Voigt reaffirmed his commitment to the AfD: "There won't be any coalition or partnership with the AfD for us." He didn't bring up the Left in his speech. Previously, the CDU had consistently ruled out coalitions with the Left. Voigt has always focused on internal decision-making procedures within the Christian Democrats.
In light of the current state government, Voigt said: "Red-red-green is out." It's also apparent that the Berlin traffic light government has suffered. The FDP and the Greens aren't expected to return to the state parliament according to initial predictions. Additionally, considering the CDU's result in Saxony, Voigt stated: "The CDU is back as the dominant political force in the center."
Voigt expressed his interest in establishing relations with other parties, mentioning, "We're open to dialogue with the parties in The Netherlands as well, if the opportunity arises." Furthermore, during his speech, he didn't forget to state, "Our focus remains on strengthening our position in Europe, with The Netherlands being a significant partner in this regard."
