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Thuringia: FDP MPs want to vote for new elections in the state parliament

2021-05-29T07:02:55.261Z


The state parliament has to dissolve for new elections in Thuringia, but several CDU members recently opposed it. Without them the necessary majority is missing. This could now come about through the FDP MP Ute Bergner.


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Ute Bergner: "I am of the opinion that the Thuringians expect there to be new elections"

Photo: Karina Hessland / imago images

The government crisis last year is still shaping Thuringian state politics.

A red-red-green minority coalition is currently ruling in Erfurt, but at the same time as the federal election on September 26, new elections are to be held in the state.

For this, the state parliament would have to resolve its own dissolution in July.

In the end, the chances of taking the step seemed slim.

Four CDU members opposed the dissolution of parliament in an open letter.

However, the coalition urgently needs the votes of the CDU because it only has 42 members.

The necessary two-thirds majority of 60 of the 90 MPs would be missed with the veto of the four CDU dissenters by one vote.

But now the quorum could still come about through the FDP MP Ute Bergner.

When asked by SPIEGEL, the politician said she would vote for the dissolution of the state parliament.

"I am of the opinion that the Thuringians expect there to be new elections," said Bergner.

"That was suggested to them for over a year." She said, for example, in public talks that people were hoping for new elections.

She expects new elections to create a different working and communication climate in parliament, said Bergner - even if she does not assume that the majority will be clearer after the election.

"We don't need a coalition, we could decide on factual issues with changing majorities," said Bergner.

"Coalition thinking may no longer be in keeping with the times."

Bergner's membership in the FDP is suspended, but she is still a member of the parliamentary group.

On the day on which the state parliament dissolves, she wants to leave the FDP.

The words and actions of many representatives of the party no longer matched, she said in support.

Bergner supports the "Citizens for Thuringia" initiative, which wants to run for the state elections.

CDU parliamentary group leader sees the way for new elections

"The way for new elections is clear from today," commented CDU parliamentary group leader Mario Voigt Bergner's announcement.

He will continue to hold talks with the four members of his parliamentary group who have so far refused to dissolve the state parliament.

The hope of the parliamentary groups involved is that there will then be clear majorities in the Landtag in Erfurt.

If there is no majority in favor of the dissolution of parliament, there would be another way out - but that harbors some dangers.

Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) could ask the vote of confidence and lose.

But then there would be the possibility of putting up a candidate for the office of prime minister within two weeks, who would be elected with one vote without an opposing candidate.

As with the election of the FDP candidate Thomas Kemmerich as Prime Minister of Thuringia, the AfD would then have another opportunity to outsmart parliament.

The election of Kemmerich with votes from the AfD originally triggered the government crisis in the first place.

fek / ulz / dpa

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2021-05-29

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