Saxony's state premier Michael Kretschmer has called on his Christian Democratic Union to abandon self-imposed bans on cooperating with rival parties, arguing that political reality in eastern Germany demands open dialogue with every faction willing to engage.
"Anyone still talking about firewalls has failed to recognize the signs of the times," Kretschmer told Handelsblatt, saying his party must speak with anyone prepared to talk. He has already established a consultation mechanism in the Dresden state legislature open to all parliamentary groups, including the far-right Alternative for Germany. Kretschmer governs Saxony with a minority administration, as does fellow CDU premier Mario Voigt in neighbouring Thuringia.
The remarks put Kretschmer at odds with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who reaffirmed around July 15 that the CDU would not cooperate with either the AfD or the Left party. State elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are due in September, adding urgency to the coalition debate. Kretschmer also pressed the federal government to do more to counter the ongoing economic downturn.