Merz warns against the AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt and emphasizes the defensiveness of the institutions

The CDU party leader Merz alluded to the possibility that the AfD could form a state government in Saxony-Anhalt for the first time. “It is part of democracy that majority conditions change,” said Merz. But the values ​​of the Basic Law are not up for vote. He wanted to reassure people who are now worried: “Our institutions are defensive and stable.”

The federal government wants to continue its course in pensions, health and care, said Merz: “Our country needs fundamental reforms.” It's about the future of Germany and the opportunities for children and grandchildren. “That is why my determination to continue the reform course remains unbroken,” said Merz.

From the election results in Saxony-Anhalt, he deduces that the government can no longer justify the reforms solely on mathematical and economic grounds. A different approach is necessary, says Merz: “We have to try to reach people more effectively in all their emotionality.” He also plans to do the same for himself. Many people feared for their economic foundation and their social security. He therefore wants to develop “a better superstructure” together with the SPD in order to explain why the government considers these reforms necessary and right.

It remains to be seen what a future state government in Saxony-Anhalt might look like. The AfD has 39 seats in the new state parliament and would be dependent on the support of at least three additional MPs from other factions for an absolute government majority. Top candidate Ulrich Siegmund spoke at a press conference on Monday together with the AfD federal leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla of a “very clear government mandate” for the AfD.

However, he will only stand for election as Prime Minister if it becomes clear “that I have achieved a stable majority”. In order to organize this majority, he wants to hold talks in the coming days and weeks. He left it open which parties would be considered as possible coalition partners for the AfD. He is looking for “individual MPs or parliamentary groups” who are willing to work together.

The BSW top candidates want to abstain from a third round of voting

The next Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt will be elected by the state parliament in Magdeburg, the date is still open. For the election, 42 votes are required in the first two rounds; in a third round, a simple majority would be sufficient. Then Siegmund could only be elected Prime Minister with the votes of the AfD MPs, provided that enough other MPs abstain. However, the AfD candidate indirectly ruled out such a scenario on Monday. He wants a stable majority.

So far, only the BSW has shown itself to be open to working with the AfD. Contrary to the polls, it will enter the state parliament and have five representatives there. When it comes to energy and Russia policy, both parties overlap in terms of content, and top BSW staff also reject the firewall. "I see the AfD as a party that was elected by 44 percent of the people here. And I have to take that into account. For me that is democracy," said top candidate Thomas Schulze on Deutschlandfunk.

However, he stuck with the BSW proposal to bring in a non-partisan Prime Minister for Saxony-Anhalt and then govern with changing majorities. A person from Saxony-Anhalt will be named “promptly,” said Schulze. Siegmund did not want to vote for her, the other BSW top candidate, Claudia Wittig, also said on Sunday evening on ARD. However, both BSW top candidates also confirmed that they would abstain from electing the Prime Minister in a possible third round of voting.

Meanwhile, an action alliance called “Oppose” called for protests on the day of the prime ministerial election. “We cannot trust the CDU and BSW not to elect an AfD prime minister into office and thereby incur historical guilt,” said a press release. The plan is to change the state parliament on the day of the prime minister election. Thousands of people can be mobilized. The organization Campact announced protests in several cities this week.