Formation of government: CDU, BSW and SPD in Saxony continue to explore after conflict

Progress instead of standstill: The explorations for a possible coalition between the CDU, Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and the SPD in Saxony continue. After the SPD suspended the talks on Friday, the leaders of the three parties agreed to continue. “The voting behavior in the plenary session as well as misunderstandings in dealing with each other were addressed and cleared up,” the parties said in a joint statement.

Last Friday, the majority of BSW MPs in the state parliament approved a request from the AfD to set up a parliamentary committee of inquiry into the corona pandemic. This was met with incomprehension, especially by the SPD. The BSW had already spoken out in favor of such a U-committee during the election campaign and also submitted a motion itself, but it did not find a majority.

Coordination of possible coalition partners should work better in the future

“As a result of the conversation, agreements were made for better coordination during the exploratory talks and for future cooperation,” it said in a brief statement. The experts appointed by the three parties would continue their explorations in the working groups and present results by November 7th as agreed.

Wagenknecht rejects allegations of interference in the negotiations

BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht, meanwhile, rejected allegations that she was interfering too much in government negotiations in the East German states. Wagenknecht told MDR aktuell, “First of all, our people on site negotiate, including in different teams. Of course we coordinate on this. All parties do that.” In addition to Saxony, Brandenburg and Thuringia are also in discussions about forming a government with the involvement of the BSW.

Peace policy demands are seen as a sticking point

The sticking point is Wagenknecht’s demand to include peace policy demands in the preamble of possible coalition agreements. The CDU and SPD accuse Wagenknecht of interfering too much in the local discussions. Wagenknecht emphasized that the issue of peace was one of the most important topics in the party’s election campaign.

The BSW is “not a party like all the others that allows everything to be negotiated away after the election just to fill ministerial positions, but we have brought a clear substantive claim to this government,” Wagenknecht told MDR-aktuell.

For parts of the Saxon Union, the BSW remains a red flag

For parts of the CDU in Saxony, the BSW remains a red flag. It is a question of “political hygiene” whether one forms a government with the BSW, explained the strongly conservative Homeland Union within the Saxon CDU and suggested a survey of the members. This would be “a confident sign of democratic action and would certainly counteract a split in the party.”

Homeland Union wants member survey of the CDU base

According to the Homeland Union, the survey will be about whether the base sees greater opportunities for implementing the CDU government program in a coalition involving the BSW or in a minority government. The Homeland Union itself has repeatedly spoken out in favor of a minority government since the state elections on September 1st. CDU state leader and Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer has so far been against it.

In the state elections on September 1st, the CDU became the strongest force in Saxony with 31.9 percent of the vote, ahead of the AfD (30.6 percent). Since the Union categorically rules out an alliance with the AfD and also with the Left, only an alliance of the CDU, BSW and SPD is possible for a majority government. It is not enough to continue the current coalition of the CDU, Greens and SPD.