Kretschmer wants to win state elections with Saxon issues

Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer warns against turning the Saxon state elections at the beginning of September into a protest vote against the policies of the federal government. Referring to the actions of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the CDU politician told the "Sächsische Zeitung" (Friday): "It is clear to us Saxons that we will wake up in this country after September 1st and that nothing will change in Berlin. We must therefore shape this election in such a way that we take our fate into our own hands with pride." The state election must be a real Saxony election.

The record of Saxony's politics since 2019 is good - that is something to talk about. Kretschmer's CDU is currently just behind the AfD in election polls with around 30 percent. Regarding possible coalitions, Kretschmer said that the CDU would decide after the election whether to enter into talks with the Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) alliance. This decision would be made in Saxony regardless of the fact that CDU federal leader Friedrich Merz had recently spoken out against cooperation with the BSW. "We are taking our destiny into our own hands here," said Kretschmer. He confirmed that he did not want to enter into another coalition with the Greens if possible. He strictly ruled out any cooperation with the AfD.