CDU and SPD want to start coalition negotiations

CDU and SPD in Saxony have decided to enter into coalition negotiations to form a minority government. This was decided by the state executive committees of the two parties in Dresden this evening. The two parties plan to announce further details at a joint press conference on Friday morning. If the CDU and SPD form the new government of the Free State, they will need a total of ten votes in the state parliament to obtain a majority for decisions.

The two parties have already formed a joint government twice - from 2004 to 2009 and from 2014 to 2019. In the previous legislative period, there was a three-party alliance of CDU, Greens and SPD.

In the state parliamentary elections on 1 September, 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, the only option for a majority government was an alliance between the CDU, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) and the SPD. However, the BSW broke off the exploratory talks the previous week because they were unable to reach agreement on key issues such as peace policy, migration and finances.

As numerous positions have already been clarified during the exploratory phase, the coalition negotiations are expected to progress quickly. Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) wants to forge the alliance before Christmas if possible. The deadline for electing a new Saxon head of government is the beginning of February 2025.