BSW parliamentary group leader wants to probe further in Saxony

After the interruption of the exploratory talks in Saxony, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) is calling on the SPD to continue the talks. "The theater that the SPD is putting on is unacceptable to me and politically irresponsible. I call on the SPD to return to the serious negotiation process that has taken place so far," BSW parliamentary group leader Sabine Zimmermann told the "Tagesspiegel" newspaper.

On Friday, a large proportion of BSW MPs in the state parliament voted in favor of a motion by the AfD for a coronavirus investigation committee. As a result, the SPD suspended the exploratory talks between the CDU, BSW and SPD for the time being. The committee of inquiry would have been established even without the votes of the BSW, as the AfD is represented in the state parliament with 40 MPs, but only 24 votes were required.

Zimmermann defended the voting behavior to the newspaper: "The fact that the corona period must be dealt with in a committee of inquiry was a central election promise for us and is therefore non-negotiable." The BSW had informed the CDU and SPD transparently and at an early stage that it would vote in favor of the AfD motion. "We also gave them the opportunity to co-sign our BSW motion on the topic, but they refused," said Zimmermann.

According to the SPD, a meeting with top politicians from the CDU and BSW is planned for Monday to clarify whether and how the talks can be continued. "We want a stable government in Saxony. The SPD must finally decide what it really wants," said Zimmermann.

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 rules out an alliance with the AfD and the Left Party, only an alliance between the CDU, BSW and SPD is an option for a majority government. A continuation of the current coalition of CDU, Greens and SPD is not enough.