Saxony is poised to establish its first minority government formed by the CDU and SPD, with negotiations ongoing since mid-November. While the CDU’s special party convention showed strong support for the coalition agreement, the SPD’s decision is awaited. Challenges lie ahead, as CDU leaders emphasize collaboration while some members voice concerns about potential costs of relying on other factions. Key initiatives in the agreement include mandatory preschool and border police, with Prime Minister Kretschmer aiming for re-election on December 18.
New Minority Government in Saxony: CDU and SPD Join Forces
In a historic move, Saxony is set to witness its first minority government formed by the CDU and SPD. Negotiations for the coalition agreement have been underway since mid-November, but the final approval from the party bases is still pending. The CDU initiated the approval process during a special party convention on Saturday, where the agreement received overwhelming support despite some dissenting opinions. The SPD is expected to reveal its decision on Monday.
CDU’s Commitment and Challenges Ahead
At the special party convention held in Dresden, the Saxon CDU expressed a strong majority in favor of the minority government alongside the SPD. With only a handful of opposing votes on the nearly 100-page agreement, CDU state leader Michael Kretschmer urged his party members to maintain unity. He dismissed calls for a solely CDU government, emphasizing the importance of collaboration.
Kretschmer cautioned the approximately 240 delegates about the “challenging times” ahead and outlined a consultation strategy to engage other parties in the state parliament for legislative proposals, aiming to secure necessary majorities. He mentioned that, although initial talks with the BSW did not yield results, building trust and respect could pave the way for future cooperation.
Criticism emerged from within the CDU, notably from state treasurer Matthias Grahl, who advocated against the coalition agreement, warning that every project or “left vote” would come at a significant cost, as approvals from other factions would be required. He urged the party convention to avoid following a misguided path that could inadvertently strengthen the AfD.
On the other hand, CDU faction leader Christian Hartmann viewed the minority government as an opportunity for experimentation. He acknowledged that compromises and challenges would be necessary but stressed the importance of the CDU taking responsibility for the state’s future.
In the recent state elections held on September 1, the CDU emerged as the leading party in Saxony, garnering 31.9 percent of the votes, narrowly ahead of the AfD at 30.6 percent. With the CDU ruling out coalitions with both the AfD and the Left, the only viable majority government option was a coalition with the SPD and the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW). However, plans for this coalition fell through during exploratory discussions.
The coalition agreement outlines several initiatives, including a free mandatory preschool year and the creation of a Saxon border police. Additionally, it seeks to alleviate financial burdens on municipalities and districts while ensuring all hospital locations remain operational. The SPD is providing its members with the option to vote by mail on the coalition agreement, with the results to be announced on Monday. Prime Minister Kretschmer aims to secure re-election in the state parliament on December 18, relying on support from opposition members.
In a related development, the CDU’s state representative assembly also selected candidates for the early re-election of the Bundestag scheduled for February 23. Carsten Körber, Christiane Schenderlein, Markus Reichel, Jens Lehmann, Nora Seitz, and Lars Rohwer secured the top six positions. Notably, Jens Lehmann, a two-time Olympic champion and cycling world champion from Leipzig, has represented the Union in the Bundestag since 2017.