Saxony's Minister President Kretschmer meets BSW Chairwoman Wagenknecht in Berlin

Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) has met with BSW Chairwoman Sahra Wagenknecht. The meeting took place on Monday afternoon in Berlin, the CDU announced. The aim of the meeting was to "explore possibilities for constructive political cooperation". Talks between the CDU and the BSW in Saxony are now set to begin in the coming days.

Kretschmer and Wagenknecht reportedly discussed the political situation in the Free State of Saxony, new opportunities for direct democracy and the coronavirus investigation. State political topics such as education, security and social policy also played a role. There was also an exchange on foreign policy positions.

Kretschmer previously critical of Wagenknecht's interference

During the election campaign, Kretschmer had expressed criticism of Wagenknecht's attempt to determine conditions for possible cooperation with the CDU in Saxony and Thuringia. "The days of the Politburo are over, when someone in Berlin could decide what happens on the ground," he said two and a half weeks ago.

The CDU was only just ahead of the AfD (30.6 percent) in last Sunday's election with 31.9 percent of the vote. Kretschmer's Union is dependent on the BSW (11.8 percent) for a majority government. He also needs either the SPD (7.3%) or the Greens (5.1%). This is not enough for a continuation of the old coalition. According to his statements during the election campaign, Kretschmer no longer considers this desirable either. He rejects the suggestion of a minority government.