CDU rules out cooperation with AfD and BSW after state elections in Saxony-Anhalt

A month after the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, CDU parliamentary group leader Sven Schulze confirmed that the AfD cannot rely on votes from the Christian Democrats in the prime ministerial election of its candidate Ulrich Siegmund. “No one will switch from the CDU to the AfD in any way. The AfD doesn't have to hope for that either. We see ourselves as an opposition party,” said the state party leader in the ARD’s “Report from Berlin”. All CDU MPs have confirmed this several times, both verbally and in writing.

With a view to ongoing talks between the AfD and BSW about forming a government, Schulze said that the CDU was not aiming to "work directly with these two parties and say that we want to get involved somewhere." Cooperation would mean, for example, that we agree on laws or other things, said the Prime Minister. “We don’t plan to do that.”

The CDU has borne responsibility as a government party for 24 years, but is now in the opposition. “This hurts us overall, but we will accept this role.” And if the AfD now wants to take on government responsibility together with the BSW, “then for five years in the future it will be completely dependent on what Ms. Wagenknecht from Saarland or Berlin says here.” Sahra Wagenknecht is the founder of BSW.

Election of the head of government in December

AfD co-parliamentary group leader Siegmund wants to be elected as the new Prime Minister in December. According to his own words, the 35-year-old assumes that he will be elected in the first round with a “significant majority”. However, how Siegmund comes into office remains unclear. The AfD has 39 members in parliament. The CDU, Left, Greens and SPD together also have 39 seats, the BSW is represented by 5 representatives. For a majority in parliament, 42 votes are needed.