Saxony-Anhalt: CDU members criticise plan to walk out of premier vote
The CDU plans to leave the chamber during the first two rounds of the state premier vote. Former CDU lawmakers speak of a “grey area” and an “admission of failure.” The AfD is three votes short.
Photo: Torsten Maue / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Discontent is growing within the Christian Democrats in Saxony-Anhalt over the state parliamentary group's plan to leave the chamber during December's election of the state premier. Former state interior minister Holger Stahlknecht told Die Welt that dodging a vote every time in such situations would not fit his understanding of the state, adding that if lawmakers were kept away by pressure, “we would be in a grey area.” Former state lawmaker Alexander Räuscher said the move looked clever at first glance but was, on reflection, an admission of failure.
Group leader and acting premier Sven Schulze said the CDU would leave the chamber during the first two rounds, although lawmaker Guido Heuer said he would vote anyway. The first two rounds require an absolute majority of 42 votes. The far-right AfD holds 39 seats, so its lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund needs three votes from other groups. The BSW plans to abstain. In a third round, a majority of votes cast is enough.