In Thuringia Ramelow proposed the CDU wife Lieberknecht as interim prime minister. Now she declined and campaigns for an absolute taboo break.
- After the election debacle in Thuringia, the Left, SPD and Greens as well as the CDU are trying to find a way out of the government crisis.
- At the same time, the parties want to dampen the apparently unexpected setback from the surveys. The CDU only wants to accept Ramelow's proposal under "conditions".
- You can read all previous developments on the government crisis in Thuringia in our news ticker. A summary of the election scandal in Thuringia itself can be read here.
3.45 p.m .: Christine Lieberknecht's demand could cause a new dispute within the CDU . It had demanded that the CDU in Thuringia work with the left (see entry at 2:48 p.m.). That would be like breaking a taboo . But Lieberknecht is already getting approval:
In view of the government crisis in Thuringia, the Schleswig-Holstein Minister of Education Karin Prien (CDU) has once again asked her party to rethink how it deals with the Left Party. “When I look at Thuringia, it doesn't help to mourn the spilled milk. We have to rethink our dealings with the left, ”wrote Prien, who is the spokeswoman for the Jewish Forum in the CDU, in a guest contribution for the“ Jüdische Allgemeine ”.
And CSU boss Markus Söder was also divided. It is true that the CDU continues to clearly differentiate itself from the Left Party, because it still does not explain that the GDR was an injustice state. "Whether the CDU response was the best tactically, you can argue about it." So Söder when recording the ZDF program "What now, Mr. Söder?" On Wednesday in Munich.
Thuringian crisis escalates: Lieberknecht demands absolute taboo breaking and shoots violently against the federal CDU
2:48 pm: Christine Lieberknecht is no longer available as interim prime minister . After Bodo Ramelow had proposed it from the left, she was ready in principle, but withdrew it. This was mainly due to one point: the left would have quickly called for new elections with a transitional prime minister. The CDU therefore wanted a later date for new elections and "pacify the situation in the existing state parliament," Lieberknecht told the world . In her view, this conflict could not be resolved, so she withdrew her name.
Instead, Lieberknecht is now advocating that the CDU should cooperate with the left. This would be a taboo break, after all, this would contradict a decision of the federal CDU. Although she knows these decisions of the party, Lieberknecht continues to say that Thuringia is in a "complicated real political situation" that has to be resolved real politically. Therefore, she is for a cooperation with the left: "It is difficult for us Christian Democrats, it is not our wish. But it is now about the well-being of the country. "There are political overlaps, she continues and summarizes:" I can only recommend my party to jump over its shadow and to find a way out with the left. We now owe that to the Free State of Thuringia. "
However, the federal CDU would run storm against such cooperation. However, Lieberknecht apparently has little fear of intervention from Berlin: "After everything that has happened, I do not have the impression that the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus can intervene effectively in the Thuringian situation."
Thuringian crisis: Mohring gives up CDU parliamentary group presidency early
2:11 p.m .: Thuringia's CDU leader Mike Mohring resigns from his party as group leader. A new election is planned for March 2 . Mohring said after a parliamentary meeting on Wednesday.
So far, the date for this was May. Mohring reiterated that he would no longer run for the group chairmanship. The question of confidence demanded by some CDU MPs was not raised in the parliamentary group meeting on Wednesday.
12:59 p.m .: The Thuringian Greens faction leader Dirk Adams has asked the CDU to clear the way for a new election of the parliament. One is negotiating hard with the Christian Democrats "that we are going to new elections," said Adams in Erfurt on Wednesday. The aim of the Greens is not, however, to get a new election quickly, but surely. To decide to dissolve the parliament in Thuringia, a two-thirds majority is necessary - 60 votes. "The five votes of Bündnis90 / Die Grünen are ready," said Adams.
Left, SPD and Greens together have 42 votes. According to Adams, it is now a matter of looking for the missing 18 votes in order to be able to decide on a new election. "First of all, I see the CDU parliamentary group as being somewhat obliged."
ARD presenter Tina Hassel now commented on Norbert Röttgen's move to apply for the CDU chairmanship. She warned of "chaos days".
Thuringian crisis continues: Leftists want to rule - Lieberknecht (CDU) demands breaking taboos
12:40: After the cancellation of the CDU politician Christine Lieberknecht, the leader of the parliamentary group of the left in the Thuringian state parliament, Susanne Hennig-Wellsow, sees only two options for a way out of the Thuringian government crisis. Either the CDU is now supporting Bodo Ramelow (left) in the prime minister election and then tolerating his red-red-green minority government, or the CDU is clearing the way for fast new elections: "Our opinion remains that the first ballot must fit with one democratic majority. Otherwise we won't give Bodo Ramelow a choice. "
11:36: Bodo Ramelow thanked Christine Lieberknecht via Twitter: “I would like to thank Christine Lieberknecht for your willingness to take on state responsibility in critical times! Thank you, ”said the former prime minister.
I would like to thank Christine Lieberknecht for her willingness to take on state responsibility in critical times! Thank you! https://t.co/G82BwQKPp2
- Bodo Ramelow (@bodoramelow) February 19, 202010.42 a.m .: The government crisis in Thuringia has its next chapter. After the former Prime Minister Christine Lieberknecht (CDU) refused to return to office, she campaigned for her party to support the Left and Bodo Ramelow. That would break a taboo .
Thuringia's CDU leader Mike Mohring now supported this idea of his party colleague. He again criticized the CDU party decision that Christian Democrats are not allowed to cooperate with either the left or the AfD .
It is about how to deal with a party congress resolution, "which was correct when it was adopted and is basically still correct today, but no longer fits the realities of life," said Mohring. "Can such a party congress act more than the good of the country?" Asked the 48-year-old.
The CDU is well advised if it defines its own policy and not just in relation to the AfD. At the same time, Mohring made it clear that the "firewalls" to AfD continued: "Expressly: there is no call to find a different position on the AfD."
Thuringian crisis: Lieberknecht (CDU) campaigns for cooperation with the left
10:24: Christine Lieberknecht from the CDU in Thuringia has decided to act as interim minister president. The suggestion came from Bodo Ramelow from the left . The reason is "diametrically" conflicting interests.
However , Lieberknecht is now indirectly promoting a taboo breach : " If you don't want new elections, Bodo Ramelow has to help a majority in the state parliament." The CDU politician, who has also been minister, state president and party leader in Thuringia since 1990, asked her party to do one To conclude " reliable parliamentary agreement with the left" . In her opinion, this is the only way to achieve stable political conditions in Thuringia.
This agreement should not only refer to the election of Ramelow as prime minister, but should "enable government action to be reliable in the long term". Left, SPD and Greens lack four votes for their own majority in the state parliament.
Lieberknecht indirectly advertised a taboo breach. She knows the incompatibility decision of her party, which excludes cooperation not only with the AfD, but also with the left. But she also sees that the real political situation in Thuringia has to be taken into account.
Thuringian crisis: Mohring regrets Lieberknecht decision
9.53 a.m .: Thuringian CDU state party and faction leader Mike Mohring regrets the decision of former Prime Minister Christine Lieberknecht (CDU) to no longer be available as head of the interim government in Thuringia .
On Tuesday, Lieberknecht had considered how a good transition could be created, Mohring said in Erfurt on Wednesday. "If that doesn't come together now, it would be very unfortunate because woman
Lieberknecht would be a good candidate to moderate this transition well, ”said Mohring.
The reason is a lack of agreement between the Left, SPD, Greens and CDU . "There are different opinions about the time of this transition," said Mohring.
The Thuringian crisis is now escalating completely: Lieberknecht shoots against their CDU
9.14 a.m .: A relaxation in the government crisis in Thuringia seems to be a long way off again, according to Bodo Ramelow's (left) suggestion. Christine Lieberknecht (CDU) says: “I had agreed to Bodo Ramelow and then also to my party as interim prime minister to solve the Gordian knot. However, it turns out that this does not work because interests are diametrically opposed to each other. "If no new elections are desired, Ramelow must now be made prime minister" and then it is best to go into government with him, whether that is project government or otherwise is called". The journalist Martin Debes from Thüringer Allgemeine Lieberknecht quotes on his private Twitter account.
#Lieberknecht: "I had agreed to @bodoramelow and then also to my party as interim prime minister to solve the Gordian knot. But it turns out that this does not work because interests are diametrically opposed."
- Martin Debes (@Martin_Debes) February 19, 2020Lieberknecht is making an unmistakable announcement to the CDU. The state parliamentary group had only accepted the proposal to temporarily lift the party friend technically to the prime ministerial office under "conditions". A sticking point: The CDU parliamentary group had wished for more time and a longer transitional government. Perhaps also to be able to cushion the loss of votes after the election debacle.
After Thuringia-Eklat: Talks postponed without result: tug of war for appointment for new elections
Update of February 19, 8:10 a.m .: Representatives of the left, SPD, Greens and CDU in Thuringia have postponed their talks on possible ways out of the deep government crisis of the state on Tuesday evening without results. After the joint deliberations of the four parties in Erfurt, the head of state and parliamentary group on the left, Susanne Hennig-Wellsow, announced that the talks should continue on Wednesday. An agreement will be reached by Friday.
Previously, the state CDU had partially rejected a new proposal by the former Left Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow to resolve the crisis. Ramelow had proposed that his predecessor, Christine Lieberknecht, be elected head of government after the political earthquake surrounding the resignation of FDP Prime Minister Thomas Kemmerich, who had quickly resigned from the AfD.
According to this plan, Lieberknecht should only form a "technical government" with a minister of justice, a finance minister and a head of state chancellor. This cabinet should then clear the way for new elections within 70 days. Left, SPD and Greens support Ramelow's push.
The CDU, on the other hand, supports Lieberknecht's election as prime minister, but wants a fully occupied "government of transition". It is said to consist of experts appointed by the left, the CDU, the SPD, the Greens and the FDP across all parties and to present a budget for 2021. After the state parliament passed this budget, there could be new elections, the CDU parliamentary group said.
Next bang in Thuringia: CDU lets Ramelow flash - SPD leadership reacted
10:19 p.m .: After the CDU has flashed Ramelow's proposal, the SPD leadership has now commented on the Union approach. The SPD chairmen Saskia Esken and Norbert Walter-Borjans criticized the behavior in the Thuringian government crisis.
Every wait and delay without a state government capable of acting undermines trust in democracy. "According to the most recent experience, voters should ensure that democratic governmental majority is able to act with rapid new elections - as suggested by Thuringia's SPD head of state Wolfgang Tiefensee from the start."
In the negotiations with the CDU, "a lot of music," said a representative of the SPD in the evening. It was initially unclear whether the talks failed due to the timing of new elections or whether a compromise was possible.
7:28 p.m .: What's next in Thuringia ? In the debate on a possible transitional government, the political groups of all parties represented in the state parliament will discuss the next steps on Wednesday.
Linke, AfD, CDU, SPD, Greens and FDP meet in the morning for parliamentary group meetings. The struggle for a way out of the government crisis is primarily about when it is possible to elect a new parliament.
16:37: The CDU in Thuringia is only prepared to support the proposal of former Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) to elect his predecessor Christine Lieberknecht (CDU) as Transitional Minister President under certain conditions . CDU parliamentary group leader Mike Mohring said on Tuesday in Erfurt to journalists that Ramelow's proposal falls short overall. The CDU called for a “government of transition” that is fully staffed and that is also preparing the state budget for 2021.
Next bang in Thuringia: CDU lets Ramelow flash - the country remains in crisis for the time being
4:11 pm: The Thuringian CDU apparently cannot bring itself to accept the proposal from left-wing politician Bodo Ramelow - even if it was a party friend and former CDU candidate Christine Lieberknecht. That reports Bild.de. Ramelow's proposal was straightforward to create a transitional government that was to launch new elections in Thuringia as quickly as possible. The CDU parliamentary group discussed the proposal in the Thuringian state parliament on Tuesday morning. It was not yet clear why the CDU politicians decided against it.
Apparently, criticism had increased in the CDU . And that also at the federal level. CDU federal executive board member Elmar Brok warns the picture on request: "This is a dangerous offer". He particularly criticized the proposed transition period of 70 days. That is "clearly too short to take the tension out of the population," said Brok. He also criticizes that Lieberknecht should have ruled with red-red-green ministers. Ministers, "from a coalition they don't belong to. It would be walled in, ”concludes Brok.
At the same time, the FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich spoke up - and suddenly, contrary to previous statements, spoke out against rapid new elections. "We cannot let the vote take until the result that suits us all is achieved," said Kemmerich on Tuesday after an elder council meeting in the Thuringian state parliament in Erfurt. The 54-year-old raised concerns about whether it was responsible to campaign in a currently "whipped mood".
The Thuringian CDU parliamentary group has instead advocated a longer-term transitional government headed by Christine Lieberknecht . A transitional government is needed for stability, which is “fully staffed and appointed across all parties by experts,” said Thuringia's CDU state party and faction leader Mike Mohring in Erfurt on Tuesday.
The group welcomed the fact that Bodo Ramelow (left) had proposed former Prime Minister Christine Lieberknecht. Mohring also made it clear that such a government would also draw up a budget for 2021 and this would be adopted by Parliament.
Next bang in Thuringia: CDU lets Ramelow flash - the country remains in crisis for the time being
3:09 p.m .: The idea with which left-wing politician Bodo Ramelow surprised the CDU at its first meeting two weeks after the political earthquake in the Kemmerich election: the state parliament decides to dissolve it; Christine Lieberknecht (CDU) leads a technical government with only three ministers - have the party books of the Left, SPD and Greens - and organize the way to fast new elections.
"We have to ensure that we get new elections - and all heads raised," Ramelow explains his proposal. Meanwhile, CDU, Linke, SPD and Greens advise behind closed doors about the move, which, according to observers, puts pressure on the CDU in particular.
Some even speak of a "poisoned offer" in the state legislature. So far, the former Thuringian government party CDU has shaken when the term new election came up. Surveys then predict the party will drop to 13 percent . All the more cautious is her still-faction leader Mike Mohring , once an intra-party opponent of Lieberknecht, who wants to withdraw from the group and party chairmanship after the Harakiri of the Thuringian CDU in recent days. After all, she would be back in political play with Lieberknecht as the transitional minister president - and might even be able to sell herself as a rescuer in need.
CDU dilemma after Ramelow-Coup: faction seems overwhelmed with election proposal
12.43 p.m .: It seemed to be a proposal that could mean the solution to the Thuringian government crisis - and yet the CDU board in Thuringia is still covered: ex-Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) had his predecessor and CDU politician on Monday evening Christine Lieberknecht as interim head of government. It should take over the interim government in Thuringia for the coming months. Afterwards, new elections should be held.
Ramelow had apparently secured himself that he should have discussed his proposal with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) . That reports the television station world . He also said he would have spoken to Lieberknecht on Tuesday morning. With this initiative to solve the government crisis, Ramelow was able to get everyone involved on board, as it were - except for the Thuringian CDU, which appears to be surprised and has difficulty in agreeing on the party friend as prime minister.
Lieberknecht had been contacted, said Chairman Mike Mohring on the sidelines of the parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday morning. It took a few more hours to discuss the proposal and put together an overall package. "This is an exciting proposal," he said that he had been rated with respect.
Lieberknecht was inferior to Bodo Ramelow in the 2014 elections because she had not been voted into office by AfD votes. Lieberknecht himself only wants to take a position on the proposal of her successor, Bodo Ramelow (left), to return to office for a transition phase after an agreement has been reached between the parties. "I will not speak publicly as long as there is still need for advice between the negotiating partners on Mr. Ramelow's proposal," Lieberknecht told AFP on Tuesday.
12.15 p.m .: Mike Mohring speaks on the sidelines of the CDU parliamentary group meeting in Thuringia about the Ramelow coup - he is open to the proposal. Mohring does not answer the question of whether one should not simply say yes. The Thuringian politicians from the CDU are still holding back - have not yet accepted a candidate from their own ranks and asked the parliamentary colleagues of the SPD, Left and Greens to postpone the joint meeting until the afternoon.
Video: Ramelow proposes Lieberknecht
Coup from Ramelow: CDU should choose Lieberknecht - and now seems even more helpless
11.25 a.m .: Thuringia's ex- Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) has given up his ambitions for a quick re-election in office and dignity - reportedly to offer the Thuringian state CDU a way out of the misery. According to the specifications of the Federal Party, it may not do anything together with the Left or the AfD. At the same time, the advance could also enable Ramelow to get new elections quickly. This could give him an even greater majority.
Ramelow had submitted the proposal of a transitional government under the leadership of his CDU predecessor Christine Lieberknecht on Monday evening. The 61-year-old should therefore form a "technical government" with three ministers for about 70 days until a new state parliament is elected.
Following the proposal for a CDU-led interim government in Thuringia , the meeting of the Council of Elders scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled. This was confirmed by Vice-President Dorothea Marx on Tuesday of the German Press Agency in Erfurt. The panel actually wanted to discuss the next steps out of the government crisis.
Update 10.43 a.m .: While the Federal Party is dealing with internal management debates , the Thuringian CDU is currently advising about its own candidate or a possible agreement with red-red-green. After the surprising resignation of Bodo Ramelow (Die Linke), the way for the support seems to be paved. But the decision of the state party remains to be seen.
The parliamentary group of the left also meets in parallel to the CDU. A meeting of the Left, SPD and Greens with the CDU is planned for 1.30 p.m.
Coup from Ramelow: CDU should choose Lieberknecht - and now seems even more helpless
Update at 10 a.m .: Bodo Ramelow (Die Linke) receives a lot of respect from other parties for his surprising proposal to elect former CDU Prime Minister Christine Lieberknecht as interim head of government. He selflessly cleared the way for a solution to the government crisis and built a bridge for the CDU. But it is exactly over this bridge that the Thuringian CDU seems reluctant to choose a Christian Democrat with the support of the left.
"We believe that the most important thing is that at the end of a process, the AfD cannot become stronger than it already is," said Thuringia's CDU Vice President Mario Voigt . The Thuringian CDU general secretary Raymond Walk told the mirror: "We will discuss the proposal in peace in the parliamentary group and in the regional board." The parliamentary group is meeting in these minutes.
Update at 8.40 a.m .: Thuringia's SPD chairman Wolfgang Tiefensee expects a counter-proposal from the CDU. He expected that the CDU "comes today with a very specific timetable and makes another proposal against it," said Tiefensee on BR radio station Bavaria 2. Then they would discuss it and hopefully come to a decision soon. “We cannot afford to stand still. We have to come to clear, stable conditions. ”From his point of view, a new election is essential.
February 18 update; 6:08 : Is it the solution to the government crisis in Thuringia? The left has surprisingly proposed to temporarily transfer the former CDU Prime Minister Christine Lieberknecht (61) as head of government. Lieberknecht should therefore form a "technical government" with three ministers for about 70 days - until a new state parliament is elected. Former Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow said on Monday evening that he himself would not run for prime minister for the time being, but the left's top candidate remains in new elections.
According to Ramelow's plan, Lieberknecht should solve the most important tasks in Thuringia with "a minister of justice , a finance minister and a head of the state chancellery ". Linke, CDU, SPD and Greens want to talk about the advance again this Tuesday.
Mega turn in Thuringia: Ramelow suddenly suggests Lieberknecht (CDU) as Prime Minister
February 17 update; 9:01 p.m .: Hammer in Thuringia! Bodo Ramelow brings the former Thuringian Prime Minister Christine Lieberknecht (CDU) into play as Prime Minister. Zeit reports online on information from participants. The MDR had previously reported on this.
The election of FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich with AfD votes as prime minister almost two weeks ago had caused a political earthquake. Kemmerich is now only managing director.
According to observers, Lieberknecht could be a kind of transitional head of government up to new elections. The 61-year-old head of government in Thuringia from 2009 to 2014, led a coalition between the CDU and SPD. After the state elections in 2014, the SPD opted for an alliance with the left and the Greens. This led to a change of power, even though the CDU remained the strongest parliamentary group at the time.
Government crisis in Thuringia: SPD, Greens, Left and CDU advise each other
Update from 19:52: The top politicians from the Left, SPD, Greens and CDU met for a conversation to find a way out of the government crisis in Thuringia.
Although his arrival was not initially planned, former Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow is also present at the meeting in Erfurt on Monday evening.
Update from 5:05 p.m .: Ex-Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) is not present at the first meeting of Red-Red-Green with the CDU after the election debacle in Thuringia. It is about the first contact of representatives of the four parties and parliamentary groups, the party and parliamentary group leader of the left, Susanne Hennig-Wellsow, justified the decision on Monday in Erfurt. Should there be further meetings with the CDU, Ramelow could participate, she said.
Government crisis in Thuringia: new elections as the only way out?
Announcement of origin from February 17, 2020: Erfurt - German democracy was in turmoil in the Thuringian Prime Minister election on February 5, 2020. The parties agree on this. What has a major impact on the political system has disastrous consequences in Thuringia . It is not yet clear how things will go in Thuringia. In constitutional law, the FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich , who was elected with AfD votes and has resigned, is still the incumbent Prime Minister. The population has demonstrated massively against the election and behavior of the CDU and FDP politicians. On Monday evening, the SPD, Linke and Greens want to work together with the CDU in Thuringia on a solution.
The options are sparse. The parties could agree on new elections . This would also correspond to the demands of federal politics and the wishes of many Thuringian citizens. But the state politicians are afraid of a hasty decision. New elections are expensive and would slow the state down politically for months. The Red-Red-Green government had also passed a parity law for Thuringia. Accordingly, as many female candidates as male must be represented on the party lists. The AfD is currently suing the law. Accordingly, there is no legally binding specification for the party lists. If, after the court ruling, an application was made to have the state elections annulled, there could be no government for months, said left-wing politician Bodo Ramelow. "And then we can get into the dangerous corner that we have no budget basis by the end of the year and that the municipal financial situation is in extreme imbalance."
Thuringia scandal: New elections are difficult, and so is the government
In the joint discussion, Red-Red-Green and the CDU want to strive for a government or at least a transitional government. However, it is unclear who will actually become head of government . The FDP is apparently not represented in the conversation. The voices of the free Democrats could also tip the scales. But the party has been badly damaged by the electoral scandal and is unlikely to move into the state parliament after new elections.
But an agreement between the CDU and Red-Red-Green is likely to be difficult . In the meantime, 70 percent of the Thuringian population has declared Bodo Ramelow to be a good prime minister. At the same time, the state CDU has currently lost half of its voters. Nonetheless, the CDU and CSU at the federal level still refuse to support a left-wing candidate. In particular the person Bodo Ramelow , who at the same time enjoys support from the Thuringian population. This stance could endanger the state party due to a lack of alternatives. However, there are also voices within the CDU demanding that the CDU in Thuringia should no longer stand in the way of the Prime Minister election of Ramelow.
#Exclusive: The former @ CDU general secretary @polenz_r demands that the @cdu_thueringen no longer stand in the way of a # r2g minority government led by @bodoramelow https://t.co/UzpSTzEE9V via @Tagesspiegel
- Matthias Meisner (@MatthiasMeisner) February 17, 2020The AfD has so far not been able to benefit from the scandal. But it didn't harm her either.
Thuringia: Left, SPD, Greens and CDU want to discuss the government crisis on Monday evening
Before the crisis meeting, the Council of Elders meets in Thuringia . The state parliament president Birgit Keller and the vice presidents of the state parliament are on the twelve-member committee with other members of all parliamentary groups. It should be discussed on the "further parliamentary approach". The meeting is not open to the public.
Video: The Thuringian CDU chief Mike Mohring resigns
List of rubric lists: © dpa / Martin Schutt, dpa / Martin Schutt
