According to Armin Laschet, CDU leader Friedrich Merz does not fundamentally rule out cooperation with the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). Merz had related his statements about the BSW to the federal level, said Laschet, who was himself CDU party leader until 2022, on Deutschlandfunk on Thursday morning.
Merz was recently asked whether he was prepared to consider a collaboration or coalition with the BSW in order to prevent AfD prime ministers in the east. The CDU leader then said: “That is absolutely clear, we have always said that. We do not work with such right-wing and left-wing extremist parties.” Both apply to Wagenknecht: “She is right-wing extremist on some issues, but left-wing extremist on others.”
However, there are open differences within the CDU on this issue. The Thuringian CDU is keeping such an option open in principle. Brandenburg’s CDU leader Jan Redmann has also not ruled out a coalition with the BSW. Merz’s statements are understandable, said Laschet. “But it is now a matter of achieving democratic majorities in the three eastern German states,” he stressed, with a view to the upcoming state elections in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg.
There is a federal party conference resolution on the incompatibility of a coalition between his party and the Left and the AfD. However, there is no such resolution for the BSW. “You can’t say with an alliance that hasn’t even defined itself: not with them.”
Meanwhile, the co-chair of the Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) alliance, Amira Mohamed Ali, confirmed her willingness to form coalitions with the CDU after the upcoming state elections. “We have already said in advance that if the state elections result in the Union participating in the government or forming a majority, then we are ready for talks,” said Mohamed Ali on Thursday in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”.
However, her party is not just a “majority provider” for a government led by the CDU, “but for us it is also about the content.” The BSW rules out coalitions with the AfD and the Greens, but all other parties are possible alliance partners, said Mohamed Ali.
Christian Wulff had previously contradicted Merz. He advised Merz against fundamentally ruling out coalitions with Sahra Wagenknecht’s alliance. He believes it is “wrong and also not helpful if that comes from the federal party,” said Wulff on the ARD talk show “Maischberger.”
The “state parties must essentially make decisions autonomously in their states,” said the former CDU Prime Minister of Lower Saxony (2003-2010). “Just as Mr Merz will not allow anyone to interfere if he wants to put together a new government majority with the Greens and the FDP tomorrow.”
