Cozying Up to the Union? Reichinnek Suggests Collaboration with CDU/CSU to Keep the AfD at Bay in Saxony-Anhalt
European Union Collaboration Invited by the Commission
Taking a less combative stance, Heidi Reichinnek, head of the Left faction in the German Parliament, has hinted at further cooperation with the Union. In a chat with the Editorial Network Germany (RND), Reichinnek expressed, "On the day of the chancellor's election, we sat in a room with the CDU, and no one turned into a fireball. We may not share much with the Union, but we discuss and collaborate with all democrats to serve the people."
Controversy Stirred Reichinnek pondered the idea of supporting a CDU state government in her home state of Saxony-Anhalt to prevent an AfD government following the 2026 elections. She declared, "I'm prepared to go the extra mile to keep my hometown from falling to the AfD." She suggested that the Union should repeal the incompatibility resolution that bars collaboration with the Left.
"The CDU has the democratic means to team up with the Left, not with the far-right extremist AfD. All it needs is a strong democratic compass. The Left aims to make democracy more equitable, while the AfD seeks to eliminate it. It should be a straightforward decision," Reichinnek added, with a subtle jab at the Union. She questioned their historical stance, stating, "Ultimately, the Union must decide which side of history it wishes to stand on."
Red-Red-Green: United Front for Electoral Power
Reichinnek called for a united strategy among the Left, Greens, and SPD to make red-red-green coalition options feasible. "We need to strategize on achieving progressive majorities over the next four years. But it's not just us; the SPD and Greens need to do the same. Unfortunately, we're cannibalizing each other's voter base. We need to win more public support for our causes," the Left leader told RND.
Recent polls have seen the Left surpass the Greens for the first time. However, Reichinnek didn't celebrate this as a victory for her party, saying, "It doesn't matter if the Greens and us keep shuffling five percent of voters around. Instead, we should focus on the milieus the Greens cater to and those that we reach and collaborate to maximize our impact."
Reichinnek criticized the SPD, saying, "I don't see anything in the black-red coalition agreement that the SPD once represented, and it's concerning that the SPD might disintegrate under a Blackrock Chancellor Merz." Reichinnek hopes the SPD will regain their footing in the coming years.
- The Left
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Saxony-Anhalt state elections
- Red-Red-Green
- AfD
Insights:- Historically, the CDU and CSU in Saxony-Anhalt have been hesitant about working with the Left Party, concerning their progressive views. However, the fast-approaching state elections might lead to a change in strategy if an AfD government seems inevitable without cooperation with the Left Party.- The ongoing competition between the Left, Greens, and SPD is causing them to lose support from potential voters. To counter this, a united front and collaboration are crucial in creating a strong red-red-green coalition.
- In light of the approaching Saxony-Anhalt state elections, the discussion surrounding community policy and politics has arisen, with Heidi Reichinnek suggesting potential collaboration with the CDU/CSU as a means to prevent an AfD government.
- Amidst the ongoing competition between the Left, Greens, and SPD, Heidi Reichinnek emphasizes the need for a unified strategy to create red-red-green coalition options, aiming to maximize their impact and secure progressive majorities.
