Sven Schulze, the designated leading candidate for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the upcoming Saxony-Anhalt state election, has definitively ruled out any form of cooperation with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party following the September 2026 vote.
Speaking to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Schulze aligned himself with current Minister President Reiner Haseloff on this issue, stating unequivocally that the CDU will not enter into a coalition or any collaborative arrangement with the AfD. He emphasized that there will be no internal discussion regarding such a possibility.
However, Schulze also highlighted the importance of addressing the concerns of voters currently supporting the AfD. He argued that these issues cannot be ignored and that a key objective will be to regain the support of former CDU voters. He asserted the CDU possesses solutions to all relevant issues and does not require reliance on the AfD or any other party.
Schulze maintained that stability is paramount for the region and that cooperation with a party perceived as actively seeking to destabilize the country-a characterization he extended to parties on the far-left-is incompatible with this goal. He advocates for a centrist alliance led by the CDU.
Looking to the national level, Schulze called on the federal government to restore public trust in Berlin’s political landscape, which he believes has eroded under the current coalition government. He suggested that regaining public confidence through effective governance across all sectors would provide a significant boost to the CDU in upcoming state elections.
Acknowledging the distinct political dynamics in eastern Germany, Schulze underscored the region’s unique progress since 1989, citing his hometown of Quedlinburg as an example. He also noted that anxieties among residents in the east are greater, fueled by fears that the gains made since reunification could be lost. Addressing these concerns will be central to his campaign, recognizing that the situation in eastern Germany differs from the rest of the country.