Erfurt (dpa/th) – In the Thuringian dispute over wind turbines and the influence of the AfD parliamentary group on a law, there have been initial talks between the government and the CDU parliamentary group. Group leader Mario Voigt and Environment Minister Anja Siegesmund (Greens) called each other on Tuesday, said a CDU spokesman on request in Erfurt. It’s about solutions and how Thuringia can get more energy from renewable sources. The dispute, which is about a 1000-meter distance rule for wind turbines in residential buildings, has attracted attention nationwide because of the announced support for the CDU plans by the AfD parliamentary group with its boss Björn Höcke.

Siegesmund and Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) then offered the CDU, the strongest opposition faction, on the Pentecost weekend to hold talks on the subject of regenerative energy on the basis of the coalition agreement being formed between the CDU and the Greens in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The CDU wants to change the Thuringian building code for the distance regulation and has submitted a corresponding draft law to the state parliament. With reference to similar regulations in all other East German states, some of which were decided with the votes of the SPD and Greens, Voigt again called for the red-red-green to be able to talk and compromise. He is concerned with factual issues and “serious talks in which we describe a way in which Thuringia can achieve more renewable energy,” said Voigt in Erfurt.

The opposition politician pointed out that the regional planning communities in Thuringia would already implement distance regulations of around 1000 meters for wind projects. “There’s just no legal regulation for this yet.”

The background is that the opposition factions CDU and AfD as well as the FDP group can outvote Ramelow’s red-red-green minority coalition in the state parliament if they act together. Left, SPD and Greens are missing four votes for their own majority.