The designees for the CDU’s leading candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, Sven Schulze, appears determined to steer clear of protracted debates surrounding separation of roles and conflict-of-interest protocols, dismissing them as distractions. Speaking to “Politico”, Schulze stated he would not allow such “theoretical discussions” to derail his campaign, asserting that doing so would render him unsuitable for the position.
Despite trailing significantly in current polling figures, Schulze remains confident that the CDU can emerge as the leading force in the state election scheduled for September 2026. He emphasized a focus on substantive policy proposals and voter engagement over the next eleven months, stating, “Our goal is clear: to become the strongest force.
Schulze acknowledged a discernible shift in the political landscape of eastern Germany, admitting the increasing difficulty in securing a stable governing majority. He referenced the recent developments in Thuringia and Saxony as evidence of this evolving reality. However, he maintains that the effort to advocate for the party’s platform and engage with voters remains worthwhile, drawing parallels to the CDU’s performance in 2021, when they similarly faced unfavorable polling.
Highlighting a perceived disconnect between national political discourse in Berlin and the concerns of voters in Magdeburg, Schulze relayed a common sentiment expressed during his outreach. “The people here are saying to me, ‘Mr. Schulze, we don’t want to talk about constellations; we want to talk about the issues that are important to you, that are important to us.'” This suggests a desire for grounded policy solutions rather than abstract discussions of potential government structures, potentially positioning Schulze to capitalize on a voter fatigue with national political maneuverings. The success of this strategy remains to be seen, but it underscores a deliberate attempt to redefine the campaign narrative and appeal directly to the specific concerns of Saxony-Anhalt’s electorate.