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Holger Stahlknecht, CDU regional chief in Saxony-Anhalt
Photo: DPA / Peter Gercke
The CDU in Saxony-Anhalt does not want to give way in the coalition dispute over the increase in the broadcasting fee - and if necessary let the black-red-green government alliance fail.
If the Kenya coalition bursts in a quarrel over radio license fees, there would be “a CDU minority government,” said CDU state chief Holger Stahlknecht of the “Magdeburger Volksstimme”.
The background to the government dispute is a planned increase in broadcasting fees from 17.50 euros to 18.36 euros in the interstate broadcasting agreement.
In the Magdeburg state parliament, the CDU and AfD want to vote against the increase, the SPD and the Greens in favor.
However, the CDU, together with the AfD, would have a majority in the state parliament to block the increase in the fee.
The SPD and the Greens announced that in the event of a joint vote by the CDU and AfD, they would no longer see any basis for the continuation of their coalition with the CDU.
Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) has failed so far with his efforts to get the CDU parliamentary group to stop.
Saxony-Anhalt stands alone
The Magdeburg dispute has consequences for all other federal states: the State Treaty can only come into force with a unanimous vote of all states, and only if all parliaments have decided by the end of December.
Otherwise the treaty would be off the table and would theoretically have to be renegotiated again - something several other countries have already rejected.
Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil recently warned neighbor Saxony-Anhalt that the dispute should be resolved quickly and that the 86 cents increase in the radio license fee should not fail.
The positions of the CDU on the interstate broadcasting agreement have been known for more than ten years, said CDU country chief Stahlknecht, who is also the country's interior minister.
The party wants the State Treaty to be renegotiated again.
She justifies this, among other things, with the economic effects of the corona pandemic on private households and companies.
"My CDU is not brown"
Holger Stahlknecht
Stahlknecht demands "state political responsibility" from the SPD and the Greens, they shouldn't let the Kenya coalition collapse now.
The allies, on the other hand, want to vote on the State Treaty in December - and accuse the Saxony-Anhalt CDU of making a pact with the AfD.
Stahlknecht confirmed in an interview that he rejects a coalition and "strategic cooperation" with the AfD.
He rejected allegations that the Christian Democrats were making common cause with the AfD: "My CDU is not brown."
However, should the government break and a CDU minority government - and the SPD and the Greens refuse to vote - the Christian Democrats in Magdeburg would no longer be able to avoid AfD votes in future.
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mrc / dpa / AFP