Kretschmer: Minority government not an option in Saxony

Saxony's current Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) does not want a minority government despite difficult coalition negotiations. "A minority government requires a great deal of concessions," Kretschmer told the Leipziger Volkszeitung and Sächsische Zeitung newspapers. "Why should a parliamentary group elect someone as prime minister with whom they are not in coalition, but with whom they could form a coalition?"

When asked whether he still did not want a minority government, Kretschmer replied: "Yes. Many people find a minority government exciting, I know." In Thuringia, the CDU elected Bodo Ramelow in 2020 to prevent an AfD prime minister. In Saxony, the situation is completely different. "If the formation of a government here fails by the beginning of February, there will be a new state parliament election."

In an interview with the two newspapers, Kretschmer warned potential interlocutors against making too many preconditions. "We won't get anywhere if every partner communicates pre-conditions and red lines," said the CDU Minister President. The CDU state executive board had agreed to offer talks to BSW, SPD and the Greens.

In the state elections on Sunday, the CDU in Saxony won 31.9 percent of the vote, just ahead of the AfD (30.6 percent). As Kretschmer categorically rules out cooperation with the AfD and the Left, the CDU/CSU can only form an alliance with the BSW (11.8 percent) and the SPD (7.3 percent) or with the BSW and the Greens (5.1 percent).