The majorities in the Thuringian state parliament are complicated. Now the oppositional CDU has the problem that their initiatives could be decided if the AfD, which is monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, supports them.
Erfurt (dpa/th) – The Thuringian CDU parliamentary group sees itself in a bind in the dispute over a 1000-meter rule for wind turbines in residential buildings because the AfD has sided with them. “We independently bring in content-related initiatives that correspond to our goals and convictions – regardless of who is for and who is against,” said CDU parliamentary group leader Mario Voigt on Friday in Erfurt. AfD faction leader Björn Höcke had previously announced that he would support the CDU concern in the state parliament.
A debate has been going on in Thuringia for days about whether the CDU would allow a political dam breach if the AfD supported their application. In Thuringia, the AfD is being monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution because of right-wing extremist tendencies. The opposition from the CDU, AfD and FDP has great influence in the Erfurt state parliament because the red-red-green coalition government of Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) does not have its own majority – it is missing four votes.
Voigt remarked that the general rule must be that “voting behavior on factual issues must follow reason”. He called on the Left, SPD and Greens to agree to the CDU application. “What was right for the SPD and the Greens in Saxony and Brandenburg cannot suddenly be wrong in Thuringia.” In Saxony, the state parliament changed the building code this week with votes from the governing coalition of the CDU, SPD and Greens and also sealed the minimum distance of 1000 meters between new wind turbines and residential buildings.
The ball is now in red-red-green, said the CDU faction leader and opposition leader. “The minority coalition should not refuse to agree to reasonable solutions. We expect the same willingness to compromise here as the CDU shows in many other factual issues.” Left, SPD and Greens had accused the CDU of deliberately relying on the approval of the AfD for their project. Höcke explained that “reason alone dictates that we pull together when it comes to common political goals – across party lines”.
It could be politically sensitive as early as next Wednesday at a special session of parliament that was requested by both the CDU and the AfD. It is exclusively about the red-red-green abolished school fees for trainees in health professions.
