The Minister-President of Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, Manuela Schwesig, has voiced doubts about whether the political distance between the CDU and the AfD will endure after the forthcoming state election. She nevertheless makes it clear that her government will not collaborate with the AfD.
“I cannot put my hand in the fire to say that it will not happen” she told the magazine Politico when discussing possible coalitions between the CDU and the AfD.
“What is certain is that there will be no cooperation with the AfD from my side” she added, emphasizing her desire to lead a “democratic, stable government”.
Schwesig also positioned herself firmly against any cuts to pensions, pointing out that many people in Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern live solely on statutory pensions. “That is why I can not bear pension cuts” she said, noting that the matter concerns citizens, not the electoral outcome.
She defended the SPD’s economic and social agenda, highlighting the party’s focus on strengthening the economy, ensuring secure jobs, and maintaining social safety nets. The measures she cited include relief on energy prices, investments through special funds, and increased spending on education. In Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, she referenced ongoing economic growth, substantial educational investments, and free, widespread child‑care.
When addressing the AfD’s potential role in government, Schwesig warned of the chaos such an alliance would bring. She described the AfD as a “dangerous party” that represents the interests of “Putin and Trump” rather than those of ordinary Germans, and that it opposes core everyday issues such as the minimum wage, collective wage agreements, and social programmes.