As of: March 29, 2024, 12:06 p.m
By: Kilian Beck
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Merz calls for new elections if the traffic light fails. In view of the threat to the right, democratic forces must stand together, emphasizes Baerbock.
Berlin – Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has sharply criticized calls from CDU leader Friedrich Merz for new elections in the fall. “Actually, I’m always up for a sense of humor. But everyone who loves our country, who appreciates the security and prosperity in this country, should be aware that times are too serious for party political games,” the Green politician told the Funke newspapers on Friday (March 28th)
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. Germany is needed as an “anchor of stability,” said Baerbock.
Annalena Baerbock is not very enthusiastic about Friedrich Merz's initiative. © IMAGO
Merz called for new elections in September – Baerbock appeals to “constitutional patriotism”
Merz had mentioned September 22, 2024 as a possible election date
in the newspapers of the
Funke media group
in the event that the traffic light coalition made up of the SPD, Greens and FDP broke up prematurely. “The summer holidays would then be over everywhere, and with the state elections in Brandenburg, the day is already an election Sunday,” said the Union faction leader. The next federal election will not normally take place until autumn 2025. Politicians from all traffic light parties criticized Merz for his statements. Most recently, Finance Minister Christian Lindner's (FDP) order of spending limits for all ministries in the ongoing budget negotiations caused trouble with the partners, including Development Minister Svenja Schulze, who was irritated.
Baerbock now followed up. In view of the demonstrations against right-wing extremism that have been taking place across the country for weeks, politicians must now “be constitutional patriots”. Their task is to keep the “liberal society” stable. According to Baerbock, this also applies to the opposition “despite all legitimate differences on the matter”. We have shared political responsibility. When asked whether she wanted to become the Green Party's candidate for chancellor in the next federal election, Baerbock replied: “There is a time for everything. Also the answer to this question.”
Polls: Union would be big winner of new elections - if the CSU gets into the Bundestag
A survey by the
elections research group
saw the CDU/CSU parties at 31 percent at the end of March. The second strongest force would be the partly right-wing extremist AfD with 18 percent. They were followed by the SPD with 16 percent and the Greens with 13 percent. The newly founded Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) would therefore have five percent. The FDP would miss out on entry into the Bundestag with four percent, the same applied to the Left with three percent. The Greens are the only traffic light party that is not threatened with massive losses compared to the 2021 federal election.
The big winner compared to 2021 would be the Union, which could gain around six percent. However, this assumes that the Union either wins its lawsuit against the new electoral law without a basic mandate clause at the Federal Constitutional Court or that the CSU collects so many votes in Bavaria that it would make it over the five percent hurdle nationwide.
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AfD in slight downturn in polls after demos against the right – small unknown BSW
The AfD has been in a slight downward trend since the investigative portal Correctiv published its research into the meeting of high-ranking AfD members with other ethnic extremists and the subsequent demonstrations. And yet that would be. Party about nine percent above its 2021 result. The BSW seems to be settling in the single-digit percentage range, but surveys are only of limited significance for new parties because voters don't know where they stand as well as they do for established parties.
(kb with dpa)