Sachsen-Anhalt: Regierung ohne AfD? SPD will Optionen in Magdeburg ausloten

Two weeks after the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, the SPD leadership surprisingly invited representatives from the CDU, Greens, Left and BSW to discuss the possibility of forming a government. The letter from SPD Landeschefs Juliane Kleemann and Andreas Schmidt to the other four parties stated that they are responsible for "seriously exploring the existing options for forming a stable and capable government."

The exchange is set to take place in Magdeburg on Tuesday. Both the Greens and Left accepted the invitation, as confirmed by Green and Left candidates Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz and Eva von Angern, respectively. "We welcome the initiative," Sziborra-Seidlitz said.

Saxon-Anhalt's Minister-President and current CDU Landeshauptmann Sven Schulze said he would discuss the invitation with the acting Landesvorstand. BSW group leader Thomas Schulze expressed surprise that the strongest faction in the Landtag was not invited to these crucial talks, stating that they are pleased that the overparty leader's proposal has received approval and are simultaneously surprised that the largest faction in the State Parliament was not invited.

A suitable candidate to bridge the divides would also need to be elected with votes from the AfD, Schulze emphasized. Talks on democratic parliamentary work were available, he stressed.

It has been over two weeks since the Landtagswahl, yet it remains unclear on which political basis and with what majority a new State government for Saxony-Anhalt can be formed, as stated in the letter from the SPD politicians. The willingness of the SPD to discuss talks with the democratic parties remains unchanged. "In particular, we would like to examine the standing proposal for the election of an overparty Minister-President and explore together whether this could result in a perspective for the formation of a stable State government," the SPD politicians said in the letter, which was obtained by the Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

The AfD won the Landtagswahl in Saxony-Anhalt two and a half weeks ago but is missing three votes to govern on its own. A majority requires 42 votes. The AfD has 39 deputies, while the CDU, Left, Greens and SPD together also have 39 seats, and the BSW has 5 deputies. The BSW is the only one to have responded positively to the AfD's invitation to discuss the future of the state.

The AfD and BSW are currently looking into whether a substantive collaboration is possible. This week, negotiations are set to be held again. A coalition with the AfD is, however, ruled out by the BSW.