No connection for AfD interior ministers in the IMK state rounds

If the AfD were to succeed in forming a government in Saxony-Anhalt, an interior minister from their ranks would not be able to join the state ministers. Like all other interior department heads, he could take part in the meetings of the Conference of Interior Ministers (IMK) of the federal and state governments, but not in the usual separate preliminary discussions of the so-called A and B states.

“The decision taken by the CDU and CSU is clear: there is no cooperation with the AfD,” says the current spokesman for the B states, Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU), when asked. This means that the question of an AfD interior minister in the group of B countries is completely absurd. “That won’t happen,” he confirms. From the ranks of the SPD-led states it is said that the AfD would not be accepted into their group.

Decisions on security in football stadiums or civil defense

The IMK is the conference of the interior ministers and senators of the federal states in which they coordinate their policies and make joint decisions. The range of topics is wide and ranges from A for deportations to Z for civil protection. The Federal Minister of the Interior takes part in the meetings as a guest with the right to speak and make proposals, but without the right to vote.

The “A countries” are informally the SPD-led countries, the “B countries” are the Union-led countries; In coalitions, the party of the Prime Minister usually counts. Even in state governments with heads of government from the Greens (Baden-Württemberg) and the Left (temporarily in Thuringia), the respective heads of the interior department found support in one of the two groups.

Decisions are no longer unanimous

A few days ago, the Conference of Interior Ministers abandoned its principle of unanimous decisions. From now on, the IMK considers it to be decided what receives a majority of at least 13 of the 16 votes in the committee. It was said that the aim was to prevent any blockade by the AfD.

No change of government in Saxony-Anhalt before the next IMK

In the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6th, the AfD was the strongest force with 43.8 percent, ahead of the CDU with 17.2 percent. The AfD is three votes short of an absolute majority. According to his own words, top candidate Ulrich Siegmund would like to be elected as the first AfD Prime Minister shortly before Christmas. At the next IMK at the beginning of December, Saxony-Anhalt will be represented by Tamara Zieschang (CDU), who will then be in charge as Interior Minister.

From the perspective of Bavaria's Interior Minister Herrmann, the question of what consequences an AfD state government would have in Saxony-Anhalt is receiving too much attention. He says that instead “we should talk about what counts now: our country is facing major challenges – in security, migration, the economy and social cohesion.” This requires clear decisions, decisive action and political responsibility.