Thuringia: Former CDU Prime Minister for a new approach to the AfD

Former Thuringian Prime Minister Christine Lieberknecht (CDU) is calling for her party to deal differently with the AfD. “I am still clear that the CDU does not actively work with the AfD. The AfD must not get any power. But you have to talk to them about processes,” she tells “Stern”. “It is neither democratic nor productive to deny the AfD its parliamentary rights.”

In Thuringia, the AfD, which the country’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies as firmly right-wing extremist, became the strongest force in the state elections on September 1st. The constitutive session of the state parliament descended into chaos at the end of September due to the appearance of AfD senior president Jürgen Treutler.

Lieberknecht pointed out that although the AfD had no right to the state parliament presidency, it was entitled to a place in the parliamentary presidium. “So if the parliamentary group nominates a politician who has no criminal record or is openly extremist, the CDU should elect him,” she said. “In addition, the blocking minority requires that the AfD be involved in the election of constitutional judges.”

Since the AfD has won more than a third of the state parliament seats in Thuringia, its consent is required for decisions and elections that require a two-thirds majority. The CDU and SPD are currently talking to the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) about forming a government.

Lieberknecht led a black-red coalition as head of government in Thuringia from 2009 to 2014.