Wagenknecht: sensible handling of the AfD for Thuringia

Wagenknecht: sensible handling of the AfD for Thuringia

Erfurt/Berlin (dpa) - In the past few weeks, a debate about dealing with the AfD has shaped the political discussions in Germany, especially in Thuringia. Sahra Wagenknecht, the chair of the newly founded party, Bündna Wagenknecht (BSW), has clearly positioned itself and calls for a differentiated approach to the measures and ideas of the AfD. Her statement that the previous reflex -like resistance to the party is not sufficient, raises questions about the state of political culture in Germany.

Wagenknecht demand for pragmatism

In an interview with the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, Wagenknecht emphasized that the blind fight against the AfD was not expedient. In her opinion, not every statement by the AfD should be questioned immediately. "If the AfD says the sky is blue, the BSW will not say that it is green," said Wagenknecht. This means that it demands a more pragmatic approach in the political discussion.

The conflict within the CDU

The discussion about possible cooperation was heated by statements by the Thuringian CDU top candidate Mario Voigt. Voigt criticized the BSW and accused her of being open to working with the AfD. This happened after the Thuringian BSW candidate Katja Wolf indicated in an MDR program that they did not exclude the opportunity to discuss AfD initiatives.

The reactions of Katja Wolf

Wolf himself rejected Voigt's allegations as "completely absurd" and made it clear that she does not find the handling of the AfD as normal, but demands "dealings". She explained that something had to change in the political landscape: "It takes more pragmatism and less ideology." She sees a central problem in the AfD, but does not want to fundamentally refuse to discuss its proposals.

The atmosphere before the state election

With the upcoming state election on September 1st, Thuringia faces a significant political upheaval. Surveys draw a picture of a tight head-to-head race between the BSW and the CDU. Should the BSW be performed successfully, Katja Wolf could even claim the prime minister. This dynamic is also influenced by the negative attitude of the CDU compared to formal collaboration with the AfD, although in the past some drives were adopted with the help of AfD participation.

characteristics of the political landscape

The BSW only founded its Thuringian Landesverband in March and already shows success in voting, which indicates a change in the political landscape in East Germany. This radical change can be seen as an indicator of the growing dissatisfaction of the citizens with the traditional parties and their handling of the AfD.

The discussions in Thuringia could not only shape political culture in the region, but also throw a shadow on nationwide politics and the strategies of the established parties. The call for more openness and pragmatism can be seen as an attempt to bridge the political trenches and to conduct a serious examination of the country's problems.