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Armin Laschet (left) and Reiner Haseloff
Photo: MICHAEL KAPPELER / AFP
The CDU chairman Armin Laschet has underlined the clear demarcation from the AfD after the clear election victory of his party in Saxony-Anhalt.
"The CDU is the bulwark against extremism," said the candidate for chancellor.
His party got more votes in the election on Sunday than the AfD and the Left together, the "clear edge" against the AfD was supported.
"The course of the center is not changed by a millimeter."
Laschet emphasized that, unlike in the previous election, the CDU in Saxony-Anhalt now has “several coalition options in the democratic center”.
This was a great success for Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU), who was also "a father in the best sense of the word."
Haseloff reported at the press conference that he only slept three hours last night.
Nevertheless, the clear victory is "still an almost intangible feeling."
He described the unity of the Union as the decisive point for the CDU election victory.
"That is just as achievable for the federal election if we march together," said the CDU politician.
CDU explores with the SPD, Greens and FDP
Haseloff announced that the CDU wanted to explore with the SPD, Greens and FDP. Only then will the decision be made as to who the CDU wants to form a coalition with. The decision should be made "quickly, but very carefully".
The CDU had received 37.1 percent of the vote in the election on Sunday (2016: 29.8). The AfD, which is considered particularly right-wing in Saxony-Anhalt and is targeted by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, remained below its old result with 20.8 percent (24.3). The Greens, which are generally rather weak in the east, improved only slightly, they came to 5.9 percent (2016: 5.2). With 8.4 percent, the SPD recorded its worst result to date in Saxony-Anhalt (2016: 10.6 percent). The left slipped to 11.0 percent, its worst result in the state since German unification (2016: 16.3). The FDP reached 6.4 percent (2016: 4.9 percent).
This means that the CDU has 40 mandates.
The AfD has 23 seats, the Left 12, the SPD 9, the Greens 6 and the FDP 7 seats.
In mathematical terms, it would be possible to continue the so-called Kenya coalition of CDU, SPD and Greens, a "Germany" coalition of CDU, SPD and FDP, a "Jamaica" coalition of CDU, FDP and Greens, and a government made up of CDU and SPD .
However, the latter would have a majority of only one mandate.
The CDU had ruled out an alliance with the AfD and the Left.
as / Reuters / dpa
