Kretschmer rules out move to Berlin

Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer is not seeking a move to Berlin after the Bundestag elections. In an interview with the "Süddeutsche Zeitung", the CDU politician answered the question of whether a federal minister Kretschmer after the election was out of the question: "Yes! I would be very happy if we conclude the coalition negotiations in December and form a new government." The CDU and SPD are aiming for a minority government in Saxony.

Kretschmer once again ruled out cooperation with the AfD - although the Black-Red coalition in the state parliament will be dependent on votes from the opposition parties in future. "There is no cooperation with them, they are people who harm our country," said the 49-year-old about the AfD. However, you have to talk to them, "because that's how you take away their moment of martyrdom".

Kretschmer: confronting the AfD in future

Kretschmer believes that the minority government he is aiming for also offers the opportunity to confront the AfD in terms of content. The CDU and SPD want to introduce a so-called consultation mode in which all parliamentary groups can comment on proposed legislation. "If all parliamentary groups can now make proposals for laws, then we will see who is seriously involved and who is just badmouthing everything," said Kretschmer.

The CDU leader also asked for time to allow the work of a minority government to settle in. "The whole thing very much depends on a state government recognizing that it does not have its own majority and approaching the other parliamentary groups. And it thrives on the fact that there are MPs and parliamentary groups in the state parliament who are willing to cooperate. That will probably also have to develop," said Kretschmer.

A minority government would be a novelty in Saxony. Originally, a blackberry coalition of CDU, BSW and SPD had also been explored. However, the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance abandoned the exploratory talks because they could not agree on key issues such as peace, migration and financial policy.