Saxony CDU votes for coalition agreement with a large majority

The CDU in Saxony has voted with a large majority in favor of the coalition agreement to form a joint minority government with the SPD. At a special party conference in Dresden, there were only a few votes against the 110-page agreement. CDU state leader and Minister President Michael Kretschmer called on his party to remain united. He rejected calls for a sole CDU government.

In the state elections on September 1, the CDU was the strongest party in Saxony with 31.9 percent of the vote, ahead of the AfD (30.6 percent). As the CDU categorically ruled out an alliance with the AfD and the Left Party, the only option for a majority government was an alliance between the CDU, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) and the SPD. However, the so-called Brombeer coalition failed in the exploratory phase.

Kretschmer prepared the 240 or so delegates at the party conference for "strenuous times" and explained the planned consultation mechanism to involve the other parties in the state parliament in draft legislation in good time in order to achieve majorities. The CDU was open and reaching out, which was the order of the day. The CDU will not be dogmatic. "We are clear in our goals, but flexible in our approach."