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Saxony-Anhalt's CDU Prime Minister Haseloff
Photo: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert / dpa
The Greens in Saxony-Anhalt are increasing the pressure in the dispute over an increase in the broadcasting fee.
You threaten the CDU more clearly than before with the break of the coalition - should the Union actually stop the amendment of the state media treaty together with the votes of the AfD.
“It's not an 86 cents conflict.
Should there be such a joint rejection of the government bill by the CDU and AfD, it will destroy the foundation of our coalition, "said Sebastian Striegel, state chairman of the Greens and parliamentary manager of the state parliamentary group, the SPIEGEL.
In Magdeburg, the CDU governs together with the SPD and the Greens.
In mid-December, an important vote is due in the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt.
It is about an amendment to the State Media Treaty, which also provides for an increase in the broadcasting fee by 86 cents.
CDU Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff has signed the contract, but the approval of the state parliament is still missing.
There the CDU parliamentary group takes a stand, it looks as if they don't want to follow their head of government.
Sound becomes sharper
The SPD and the Greens had also expressed criticism of public broadcasting, but now want to agree to the new rules and the fee increase.
The opposition left had considered voting against for a while, but now supports the treaty.
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Signing of the black-red-green coalition agreement in Magdeburg, April 2016
Photo: Jens Wolf / dpa
But the AfD, for whom public broadcasting is an enemy, wants to vote against it.
Since the CDU and AfD have a majority of the seats in the state parliament, a "no" by the two parliamentary groups would stop the fee increase, bring the contract down - and possibly also break up the governing coalition.
So far, the Greens have been reluctant to warn the CDU.
Before the state party conference on Friday evening and an important committee meeting in the state parliament next Wednesday, the tone is now noticeably sharper.
»We will do everything in our power to stay in touch with our partners to find a solution.
But there is a limit, and it will be exceeded when the CDU makes itself an ally of the AfD, "said the Green parliamentary group leader Cornelia Lüddemann to SPIEGEL.
more on the subject
Icon: Spiegel PlusCDU and AfD are working together in Saxony-Anhalt: The black and brown danger
Dispute about increasing the license fee: AfD offers CDU in Saxony-Anhalt a joint vote by Severin Weiland
Trouble about radio license fee: Magdeburg jammer by Christopher Piltz
Green leader Robert Habeck told SPIEGEL: "If the CDU actually votes with the AfD against the State Broadcasting Treaty, it will share its fight against public broadcasting and its independence." That was not an "innocent game," said Habeck.
»I can only hope that the CDU in Saxony-Anhalt will come to terms and return to its place in the middle of society.
Anything else would have serious consequences. "
In Saxony-Anhalt there will be a state election next June.
Prime Minister Haseloff wants to run again.
Should the coalition collapse now, he could either ask the vote of confidence, which would lead to quick new elections.
Or the CDU might have to govern as a minority government without its own majority until the election.
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