Schulze rules out AfD votes Case-by-case stance queried

Oct 4

Hiller reports Sven Schulze saying on Bericht aus Berlin that every CDU parliamentarian has repeatedly confirmed verbally and in writing that the party will not vote for AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund as Saxony-Anhalt's minister-president. Torben Lehning says Siegmund needs three votes from other groups and plans a December bid. Schulze does not seek parliamentary cooperation with the AfD, but his quoted case-by-case opposition stance does not completely rule it out. Lehning raises the possibility of weakening the firewall. In a separate Kyiv statement within this report, Merz warns that AfD-led government in Saxony-Anhalt or a Left-led Berlin government would not contribute to Germany's stability; his allegations connecting the Left Party to clan crime and antisemitism remain attributed. Lehning notes the Union–SPD coalition agreement's exclusion of AfD cooperation at state and federal level and says the Saxony-Anhalt CDU's approach could burden the federal coalition. No minister-president election result or coalition agreement is reported.

During October 4's Bericht aus Berlin live interview from Freyburg, Sven Schulze defines constructive opposition as independently assessing each issue and deciding CDU positions and votes. He rejects direct cooperation with AfD or BSW, participation in their government and coordination on legislation. He says CDU members have repeatedly given oral and written assurances against defections, defends party unity after its unexpected election defeat and argues that an AfD government would depend on BSW and Wagenknecht. His position does not prohibit every coinciding vote or establish an actual defection or government agreement. Tagesschau's same-day retelling reports that CDU MPs will not vote for Siegmund, shows Schulze's case-by-case-position answer and raises the possibility that the stance could undermine the firewall and burden the federal coalition. Its reported investiture-vote position and interpretation remain attributed to that broadcast. The AfD's need for three outside votes and December premiership bid are prospective; no vote or concluded deal is reported.