DistantNews
Support us
Parties Define Coalition Options Before Election in Saxony-Anhalt
🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

Parties Define Coalition Options Before Election in Saxony-Anhalt

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Leading candidates in Saxony-Anhalt have ruled out coalition with the far-right AfD party ahead of the state election.
  • The CDU has excluded alliances with both the far-left and far-right, while the AfD aims for sole governance.
  • The SPD and Greens expressed reservations about the new BSW party, while the FDP and Left Party also drew lines against extremist parties.

With just six weeks remaining until the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, the major political parties have begun to define their potential coalition strategies. A clear consensus has emerged among the established parties: an alliance with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is off the table.

I will not make myself politically dependent on anyone.

— Sven SchulzeCDU State Premier Sven Schulze stating his party's independent stance.

CDU State Premier Sven Schulze stated firmly that he would not make himself "politically dependent on anyone." He explicitly ruled out coalitions with "both the far-left and the far-right," positioning the CDU in the center. In contrast, the AfD's top candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, expressed ambition for his party to form a government alone. "We want to make the first AfD-led sole government possible here in Saxony-Anhalt," he declared, suggesting that coalitions with other parties are currently unlikely.

For the CDU, coalitions are excluded both with the far-left and with the far-right.

— Sven SchulzeCDU State Premier Sven Schulze defining coalition boundaries.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens also presented their stances. SPD candidate Armin Willingmann confirmed that a coalition with the AfD is impossible and expressed skepticism about forming an alliance with the new Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). "We will have to talk about everything else," he noted. Green Party candidate Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz indicated that coalitions with all "democratic parties" are fundamentally possible but echoed Willingmann's difficulty in envisioning a partnership with the BSW at this time.

We want to make the first AfD-led sole government possible here in Saxony-Anhalt.

— Ulrich SiegmundAfD's top candidate expressing ambition for his party to govern alone.

Both the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and The Left (Die Linke) also drew clear boundaries. FDP candidate Lydia Hüskens excluded coalitions "on the far-right, far-left." Hendrik Lange, representing The Left, stated that an alliance with the AfD is "of course excluded" and vowed that his party would "do everything to ensure that the AfD does not govern this country."

A coalition with the AfD is out of the question. I also cannot imagine an alliance with the BSW.

— Armin WillingmannSPD's top candidate stating coalition impossibilities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog