Thuringia
Ramelow does not rule out a three-party coalition with CDU and BSW
Does not rule out an alliance with BSW and CDU: Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (Left Party) (archive photo). Photo
© Martin Schutt/dpa
A new state parliament will be elected in Thuringia in September. According to a survey, the Left Party is continuing to lose ground. Prime Minister Ramelow is not ruling out coalitions with the BSW – and is critical of the CDU.
The only party that the Left will not work with is the AfD. “I will work with all other parties to form a government that can gain a majority.”
Ramelow pointed out that, according to the latest polls, there are “no discernible majorities according to a reliable pattern at the moment.” The fact that the state CDU demonizes the Left Party but does not rule out cooperation with the BSW is “downright absurd.” Most of the founding members of the BSW, as well as its namesake Sahra Wagenknecht, had previously belonged to the Left Party. A minority government of the Left Party, SPD and Greens led by Ramelow has been in power in Thuringia so far.
Around two and a half months before the state election, a current survey by the opinion research institute Infratest Dimap suggests that forming a government will be difficult. According to the survey, the AfD is currently clearly in first place with 28 percent. According to the survey, the CDU has 23 percent, followed closely by the BSW with 21 percent. The Left would only get eleven percent and the SPD seven percent. The Greens and FDP would no longer be represented in the state parliament.