Kuschaty: The CDU has priority in coalition talks in North Rhine-Westphalia
Created: 05/16/2022, 12:36 p.m
Thomas Kutschaty gives a press conference after the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
After the historic defeat of his party in the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, SPD top candidate Thomas Kutschaty sees the priority for coalition talks with the CDU.
"The first proposal right lies with the election winner," said the North Rhine-Westphalia SPD state chief on Monday after a meeting of the SPD federal presidium in Berlin.
The SPD will take a close look at the first contacts and soundings between the CDU and the Greens.
Berlin - Nevertheless, the SPD is ready for talks about a traffic light.
"But we are also ready, we also offer the Greens and FDP talks to talk about a government." All democratic parties in NRW would talk to each other, said Kutschaty when asked about the theoretical possibility of a grand coalition between the CDU and SPD .
However, a grand coalition is not number one on his “wish list”.
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According to preliminary official results, the SPD only won 26.7 percent in the state elections on Sunday, 9 percentage points less than the CDU.
Kuchaty also attributed the SPD's losses to the low turnout.
This is an "alarm signal for all Democrats".
The SPD lost many voters to the “non-voter camp” and obviously also had a “gap in mobilization in the last few days”.
In addition, classic national political issues were not in the foreground for the people.
In addition to the question of the Ukraine war, she is more concerned with rising inflation and energy prices.
The SPD must now focus more on these aspects.
"Many people are worried about whether they can still afford life like this," said Kuchaty.
That played a much bigger role in the choice than education or housing.
dpa
