Brandenburg's Minister President Woidke warns of political instability in East Germany

For Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke, the state elections in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg are important for stability in eastern Germany. "Everything is at stake this time. Economic development, social security, social cohesion - and that requires political stability. In the end, it's also about democracy," the SPD politician told the Hamburg-based magazine "Stern".

The state parliaments of Thuringia and Saxony will be newly elected on September 1. Brandenburg will follow on September 22. Polls predict success for the AfD in all three states. In Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, the AfD has been classified as a confirmed right-wing extremist party by the respective Office for the Protection of the Constitution; nationwide and in Brandenburg, it is a suspected right-wing extremist party. The party is legally defending itself against the classification.

Winning against the AfD

"In Thuringia, we can unfortunately see what happens when a government does not have a majority in parliament and extremes dominate," said Woidke. A minority cabinet of the Left, SPD and Greens governs there. "Thuringia used to be the model economic state in the East! Now Brandenburg is in the lead with Saxony, partly because we have stable conditions."

Woidke wants to win against the AfD. "Until election day on September 22, it's about doing everything we can to ensure that our proud Brandenburg flag is not tarnished with brown stains." He is determined to fight and win. "This election is also a vote about me and what I have achieved for this country."

People's fear of loss

People in eastern Germany expect fairness above all - in terms of wages, opportunities in life, but also in terms of representation in top positions, said Woidke. The vast majority of people are rightly proud of what they have built up. "But what I sense is the fear of losing it all again. These fears of loss have grown in view of the many crises in the world."

For changes to the citizens' allowance for Ukrainian war refugees

Woidke is in favor of changes to the citizens' allowance for Ukrainian war refugees. "The decision was right at the time because we had to help quickly. Today, we have to ask ourselves whether this form of support is still appropriate." Many more Ukrainians are in work in other EU countries. "We need to change that. That would be good for our economy - we need workers - and promote integration," said Woidke.