After the state elections: First steps towards “blackberry” coalitions

Following the state elections in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg, the formation of a government is slowly gaining momentum. The CDU, SPD and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) are involved in all three states. New state parliaments were elected in Saxony and Thuringia on September 1st, and in Brandenburg last Sunday. However, the formation of coalitions is likely to be difficult in all three states.

A possible alliance between these three parties was recently referred to as the “blackberry coalition” because this fruit, in its various stages of ripeness, reflects the party colors. A sticking point for talks is the BSW’s precondition that, in the event of any participation in state governments, a rejection of the stationing of US medium-range missiles in Germany and the demand for more diplomacy in the Ukraine war be included in coalition agreements.

Wagenknecht senses “open-mindedness” among Voigt and Kretschmer

BSW founder and namesake Wagenknecht defended this position in the evening. In the ARD program “hard but fair” she pointed out that there is also a Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundesrat, i.e. the chamber of states. After all, a possible expansion of the war would also affect the states, ultimately also because higher military spending would mean money would be lacking elsewhere. If the BSW goes into state governments, something would have to change for the people, warned Wagenknecht.

The BSW boss had already met with Thuringia’s CDU leader Mario Voigt and Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) in Berlin. Not much has been revealed about the content so far. She wanted to get a feeling whether there was genuine interest on the other side, Wagenknecht said on ARD. At least there was “openness”.

Thuringia: Way clear for exploratory talks

The potential partners are furthest along in Thuringia. The state executive boards of the CDU, SPD and BSW spoke out in favor of exploratory talks. The plan is to start these next week, as Thuringian CDU leader Mario Voigt announced on Monday in Oberhof. The CDU wants to invite BSW and SPD to the talks. In the state elections, the AfD became the strongest force in a federal state for the first time. The CDU, BSW and SPD together only have 44 of the 88 seats in parliament and would be dependent on the behavior of the Left to pass laws. A direct coalition with the Left, including current Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow, is prohibited by an incompatibility resolution for the entire CDU.

Saxony: Three-way meeting, but no exploratory talks yet

Representatives of the CDU, BSW and SPD met in the Free State on Monday. The meeting lasted six hours. No details were announced at first. There is no talk of exploratory talks or coalition negotiations. However, further talks have been agreed.

Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer’s CDU had won the state election just ahead of the AfD. It was no longer enough to continue the old coalition of CDU, SPD and Greens. Since the CDU is not in coalition with the AfD, it is dependent on the BSW for a majority government.

Brandenburg: Invitations to exploratory talks

The victorious SPD of Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke wants to start exploratory talks with BSW and CDU, as the party leadership decided. “My goal is to form a stable government,” said Woidke. A discussion could take place at the end of this week – if the timing allows it, the party announced.

The election winner, the SPD, can form a coalition with the BSW, but can also involve the CDU for a clearer majority. The SPD has 32 of the 88 seats, the BSW 14 and the CDU 12. The BSW has not yet made a decision and refers to internal party talks on Wednesday. The state CDU sees itself more in the opposition, but does not want to refuse talks.

Shaken up the traffic light coalition one year before the election

At the federal level, the traffic light parties are debating the future of their alliance a good year before the federal election. The SPD won the election in Brandenburg, but the Greens and FDP were badly beaten. The Greens were thrown out of the state parliament with 4.1 percent, and the Liberals are barely noticeable in the state with 0.8 percent.

Accordingly, the centrifugal forces in the coalition are increasing. FDP leader Christian Lindner speaks of an “autumn of decisions” with fundamental measures in economic and migration policy as well as on the 2025 federal budget. FDP vice-chairman Wolfgang Kubicki even expressed doubts as to whether the coalition will last until Christmas.

Warning against leaving the coalition – “That would be suicide”

FDP parliamentary group vice-chairman Konstantin Kuhle said in the ZDF “heute journal” that he could well understand the frustration and doubts about whether the coalition could do anything about the poor economic situation. “But you have to try and you shouldn’t flirt carelessly or playfully with the end of this coalition at this time,” he warned. Former Interior Minister Gerhart Baum (FDP) warned in the “Rheinische Post”: “The FDP must not under any circumstances leave the traffic light coalition. That would be suicide.” In new elections, the Liberals might no longer get into the Bundestag, warned the 91-year-old. “Our country and the world now have completely different problems. If the FDP leaves the traffic light coalition, it would be an escape from responsibility.”

SPD leader Lars Klingbeil called for “massive investments” beyond the previously agreed growth initiative. In the magazine “Stern”, Klingbeil spoke out in favor of lower energy prices, an industrial electricity price and an expansion of the networks. The state must also support this so that the rising network charges are not passed on to consumers and companies. Klingbeil is thus challenging the FDP, which has so far rejected additional investments, and is also putting pressure on the Chancellor, who is opposed to an industrial electricity price.