Kretschmer sticks to BSW as a negotiating partner and distances himself from the AfD

The Sahra Wagenknecht alliance in Saxony remains a negotiating partner for Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) - regardless of the BSW's work in the neighboring state of Saxony-Anhalt. «Saxony-Anhalt is Saxony-Anhalt. The BSW has no common core, the differences between the individual state associations are huge," said Kretschmer in an interview with the Chemnitz Free Press. It always depends on the people. “If the BSW colleagues in the Saxon state parliament want to take on responsibility, relevant cooperation is of course possible.”

According to Kretschmer, it is important whether “constructive forces want to participate, whether they have a common interest, whether we can communicate. “I don’t primarily look at party affiliation.”

Kretschmer was also asked whether his stance on the AfD had changed. His answer was clear: “No. I experience them in the state parliament as a party that is becoming more and more radicalized and that never misses an opportunity to divide." You have to set your own topics with great calm. There is a new offer to get involved every day for all elected members of the state parliament. “The AfD could change its position and face tomorrow by working constructively, making suggestions and agreeing to things.”

According to Kretschmer, the AfD can “prove every day that it has clever ideas and wants to contribute constructively.” But he is not looking for a majority with this party. “Also because I have experienced many times that she is not interested in constructive solutions, but rather in blocking political work. However, a targeted search for majorities requires a minimum level of trust. The AfD has squandered this trust from the start.”

“You shouldn’t be mistaken about the essence of this party: it works heavily with exclusion and division,” emphasized Kretschmer. He thinks it is wrong to give the AfD a martyr role with the term firewall. “We have to address them politically by setting our own issues and offering good solutions.”