The SPD in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is defending itself against criticism of the election campaign of its top candidate Manuela Schwesig. The general secretary of the MV-SPD, Julian Barlen, accused the CDU of looking for reasons for its poor poll numbers everywhere but within itself.
"The most recent statements (...) give the impression that the CDU is looking for reasons for its poor poll numbers everywhere, except within itself. That is wrong. You simply cannot win elections with fish sandwiches and Friedrich Merz," says the statement, which is available to WELT. “The last survey by the Elections Research Group shows that the competence to strengthen the economy and to create and secure jobs in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania now clearly lies with the SPD.”
CDU General Secretary Franziska Hoppermann had previously accused Schwesig of weakening the political center as a whole with a highly self-tailored election campaign. Green Party leader Felix Banaszak made a similar statement: “The majority for red-red-green is within reach, but Manuela Schwesig is counting on everyone who wants to prevent the AfD to come to her – and is thereby consciously risking that the CDU or the Greens will fall out of the state parliament.”
Barlen countered in a statement: "We are focusing on state issues in the election campaign: on the economy and jobs, on daycare centers and schools and on strong social cohesion in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. And we are fighting to ensure that Manuela Schwesig remains our Prime Minister." All of this has been visible everywhere in the country for many weeks.
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 responsibility, relevant cooperation is of course possible.”
According to his own statement, it is important to him whether "constructive forces want to take part, 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 see them in the state parliament as a party that is becoming increasingly radicalized and that never misses an opportunity to divide."
According to a media report, the BSW's top candidate in Berlin, Alexander King, has distanced himself from the AfD. The overlap in content is “manageable,” King told rbb. He described the AfD as a militaristic party and rejected both its plans for so-called remigration and its rent and social policies.
At the same time, King defended the BSW's approach in Saxony-Anhalt to work with the AfD on individual issues. The election created a situation “in which all forces are forced to somehow talk to each other,” he told rbb. Through open discussion it is possible to overcome the divisions in society. According to rbb, King committed himself to implementing the election decision “Expropriate Deutsche Wohnen & Co”. So that “the budget doesn’t fall apart because of the whole thing,” he estimates a period of up to 30 years. The aim is to bring former municipal apartments back into public ownership.
After the AfD's election success in Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg's Health Minister René Wilke is relying on more exchange of opinions as a way to prevent division in society. “If I, as Minister of Health, could issue a prescription to our society, it would be exposure therapy,” the SPD politician told the German Press Agency. “By that I mean that wherever I experience things happening, where different perspectives collide, something healing almost always comes out of it.” Exposure therapy is about dealing with fears.
With regard to the AfD, Wilke warns of increasing polarization in society if the focus is on fear of migrants and proximity to Russia despite the war in Ukraine. The SPD politician believes that more mutual openness is necessary. “We have never been more eager to retreat to communities of like-minded people,” Wilke said. “Groups of friends, families and so on are now much more oriented towards whether people have the same opinion than before, whereas it should actually be normal for us to always classify ourselves.” Algorithms – automated formulas – in social media created such bubbles of like-minded people.
In view of growing criticism of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) from many Union politicians, CSU leader Markus Söder has ruled out his party's overthrow. “Absolutely not from the CSU,” Söder told “Bild” when asked whether there would be no overthrow of the chancellor. When asked whether he ruled out that this came from the CDU, Söder said: "I'm not responsible for the CDU, I'm not the chairman. But I can say that for the CSU."
When asked whether Merz was still the right man to lead a government that wanted to advance reforms, Söder said: “Yes, he stands by the reforms.” Söder also answered in the affirmative when asked whether Merz was still the “right man”. Of course, people are talking about parties and people. “The Chancellor knows that,” said Söder. But the Union would do well to stand together “and not let the AfD tear us apart now.” After a year and a half there was a serious slump, “perhaps the hardest one you can imagine, but no reason to give up.”
With a view to a possible change in chancellor, Söder said: "No matter who would step in immediately if you went through the alternatives, they would first have to deal with the same problems - with an SPD that is having difficulty with reforms."
Under the motto "Not a step back! Against the AfD and right-wing agitation!" According to consistent information from the police and organizers, around 20,000 people marched through Düsseldorf city center. The originally registered number of participants was doubled. There were also demonstrations in Berlin, where 13,000 people came.
According to his own words, SPD leading candidate Steffen Krach is doing well despite the investigations against him. “I went into politics and I know how politics works,” said Krach on the sidelines of an election campaign event in the Bornholm I allotment garden in Pankow.
“I am particularly concerned about protecting my wife and children, and I subordinate everything to that.” He and his wife try to prevent their older children from reading all the newspaper articles that appear about noise.
According to his own statements, Krach is accused by the Hanover public prosecutor of having requested a party donation twice. In addition, during his time as president of the Hanover region, he is said to have improperly passed on business secrets in a process to sell a property. The presumption of innocence applies.
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni considers so-called firewalls against right-wing parties and movements to be unsuccessful. “As you can see, this is a strategy that doesn’t work,” the politician told the Italian newspaper “Il Foglio,” when asked about the AfD’s electoral success in the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt almost a week ago.
Political movements have gained strength in Europe “that focus on the defense of identity, the fight against illegal mass immigration and the danger of an Islamization of Europe,” said Meloni. The reaction of the “establishment” was often to “build firewalls instead of addressing the issues substantively,” she explained.
A recount of votes in the Sandau electoral district in Stendal (Saxony-Anhalt) has confirmed the previous election results. The district announced that the same result was determined as last Sunday's state election, meaning there is no change in the election results. This recount was prompted by complaints from election observers who provided sufficient reasons for the action. Recounts were also ordered in other electoral districts last week.
