CDU head of government Kretschmer supports SPD man Woidke

Just under a week before the state elections in Brandenburg, SPD Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke is receiving support from Saxony's CDU head of government Michael Kretschmer. Kretschmer is hoping for a victory for the SPD politician: "It is important that the first political force in this country is a democratic party that has given this country stability for over 34 years," said Kretschmer at a joint meeting in Cottbus. "We have to stick together." At a time when many people are unsettled and worried, "we need islands of reliability".

CDU Minister President Kretschmer warns against AfD

The Saxon Minister President warned against the AfD becoming the strongest party in the state elections in Brandenburg on 22 September. "It must not turn out like this and it does not have to be like in Thuringia," said Kretschmer. What is needed in both federal states is a stable government "with personalities who already have experience and have shown that they can do it". "That's what I really want and that's what I'm campaigning for."

In Saxony, Kretschmer's CDU was ahead of the AfD in the state elections on September 1. In Thuringia, the AfD was the strongest party in the election. In Brandenburg, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist; in Saxony and Thuringia, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies it as confirmed right-wing extremist.

Kretschmer: No dissent

Kretschmer then referred first to Brandenburg's CDU state and parliamentary group leader Jan Redmann, who is the lead candidate. "The fact that I am of course also doing this for and with my friend from the CDU, Jan Redmann, I don't think will surprise anyone. There's no disagreement there either." Redmann wants to become Minister President and succeed Woidke. In the most recent polls, however, the CDU was well behind the AfD and SPD.

Redmann does not see Kretschmer's comments as an advertisement for an SPD election victory. "He supports us very much and wants a strong result for the CDU Brandenburg," he said. "In this respect, take his statement - and I think that's how he wanted it to be understood - as a vote, as a petition for the democratic center." The CDU has also contributed to giving the state stability over the past 34 years.

A new state parliament will be elected in Brandenburg on September 22. While a current Brandenburg trend for ARD by Infratest dimap puts the AfD at 27%, just ahead of the SPD at 26%, the ZDF Politbarometer by Forschungsgruppe Wahlen puts the AfD at 29%, ahead of the SPD at 26%. The CDU achieves 16% in the ARD poll and 15% in the Politbarometer. Woidke only wants to remain in government if the SPD wins the election.

Saxony's Minister President praises Woidke

Saxony's CDU head of government refers to the close cooperation with his SPD colleague Woidke in Lusatia. "I very much hope that we will continue to assume responsibility together. Dietmar Woidke has done the state a lot of good," Kretschmer told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Specifically, he mentioned the establishment of the Medical University of Lusatia in Cottbus. "What an anchor for the future that is being hammered into the Lusatian sand under Dietmar Woidke! And it was clear from the outset: we Saxons are invited to join in. "