- Woidke refuses to campaign with Chancellor
Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) is declining joint election campaign appearances with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz. When asked if he plans joint appearances with his prominent party colleague, Woidke said in an interview with the "Handelsblatt": "No. The Brandenburg SPD has always had the luck of being able to rely on strong local personalities."
Woidke wants to beat the AfD
"We've won seven state elections, we want to win the eighth too," Woidke explained. He sees good chances for this. It's about who will lead the state of Brandenburg in the future. "I want to continue doing that as Minister President," said Woidke. The MP had announced that he would link his political fate in office to a victory of his SPD in the state election in September. "My goal is to win against the AfD - and if I lose against the AfD, I'm out," said the SPD politician.
Other parties rely on their political stars
Other parties are relying on their most prominent faces in the election campaign before the state election in Brandenburg. Merz has already been drumming up support for the CDU for weeks. The Greens are planning election campaign dates with Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck. The FDP is relying on several appearances by Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner. The Chancellor would have a short way to election campaign appearances in Brandenburg from his home town of Potsdam.
Woidke's focus on beating the AfD in the upcoming Landtag election is a contrast to other parties' reliance on prominent political figures for election campaign appearances in Brandenburg. Despite this, Woidke has stated that he would participate in joint election campaign appearances with Scholz if it benefits the SPD in the Landtag election.
