Voigt sees debate about possible coalition with BSW critically

State election - Voigt sees debate about possible coalition with BSW critically

Thuringia's CDU Chairman and leading candidate for the State Elections, Mario Voigt, criticized debates about a possible coalition with the Left Party (The Left, BSW). "In the past two years, the AfD has been driven as the newcomer in the media landscape. Now it's the BSW," Voigt told the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung."

The BSW should not be the new reference point for politics in Germany, Voigt added. "I believe we should once again focus on the problems of the Germans. Moreover, I object to any interference in the decision for a possible coalition with the BSW."

The CDU is a cohesive team. "Nevertheless, what is being discussed in Berlin is not what is decisive here. Friedrich Merz and I are in agreement that the CDU is the bulwark against the AfD. We are doing well in not letting ourselves be distracted by side debates."

A new Thuringian state parliament will be elected on September 1st. The current red-red-green coalition is, according to polls, far from a majority. An INSA opinion research survey at the end of June saw the AfD leading with 29%, followed by the CDU with 22% and the BSW with 20%.

1. Despite Mario Voigt's criticism of the Left Party, there have been talks about a potential coalition between the CDU and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (FAS), which includes the Left Party, in the upcoming Thuringia State Election.
2. The AfD, which has been a significant player in Thuringia's political landscape for the past two years, is expected to remain strong, holding the leading position in the INSA opinion poll conducted at the end of June, with 29% of the vote.
3. Mario Voigt, the CDU's leading candidate, has expressed his disagreement with the idea of making the Left Party or its alliance, the BSW, the new reference point for politics in Germany.
4. The current coalition in Thuringia, consisting of the Left Party, the Greens, and the Social Democrats, is predicted to fall short of a majority in the upcoming September 1st election, leaving room for other parties like the CDU to potentially form a new government.
5. Voigt emphasized that the CDU, led by him and Friedrich Merz, is united and committed to serving the needs of the German people, while also maintaining a strong stance against the AfD, which is a significant competitor in the election.

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