Kretschmer Accuses CDU Leadership of Lack of Pace and Demands Willingness to Engage in Dialogue Across Firewall Lines

At the same time, the deputy federal CDU chairman warned of a failure of the federal political line. The federal government must finally pick up the pace, "ansonsten sehe ich bei der nächsten Bundestagswahl schwarz," said Kretschmer. He described the reform package of the black-red coalition of CDU and SPD as good but insufficient.

On substance, Kretschmer criticized the federal government's economic policy orientation. "Durch Kürzungen im Sozialbereich bringen wir Deutschland nicht auf Wachstumskurs," he said. Passive restructuring also would not lead to growth; growth arises from freedom. Tradespeople and the self-employed are "unglaublich frustriert, weil Bürokratie und Abgaben sie erdrücken," Kretschmer continued. To date, no notable improvement in bureaucracy reduction has been discernible.

The demarcation from the AfD was sharp, even though Kretschmer fundamentally urges willingness to talk. A party like the AfD harms the country, he explained. The AfD is banking on the government's failure and is the only parliamentary group that has refused from the outset to participate in a consultation mechanism he established in the Dresden state parliament. "Die AfD ist die einzige Fraktion, die von vornherein gesagt hat: Wir beteiligen uns nicht," said Kretschmer.

Consultation Mechanism in Saxony

In Saxony, Kretschmer has established a consultation mechanism in the state parliament that is open to all parliamentary groups – with the exception of the AfD, which according to his words has ruled out participation. In doing so, he pursues a pragmatic course that seeks majorities beyond the AfD without entering into formal coalitions. Mario Voigt (CDU) governs similarly in Thuringia with a minority government.

Merz Sticks to Party Conference Resolutions

Chancellor Friedrich Merz had reiterated only a few days earlier at his summer press conference that the CDU would not cooperate with the AfD and Die Linke. He cited clear party conference resolutions as the basis: "Wir haben hier klare Parteitagsbeschlüsse, und ich habe keinen Anlass daran zu zweifeln, dass wir die einhalten," said Merz. He did not answer the question of what would happen if, beyond the AfD, no majority were possible without Die Linke.

Outlook: State Elections in the East

The situation in the eastern German territorial states makes the debate particularly urgent. State elections are scheduled for September in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and in both states a scenario without a majority beyond the AfD that does not include Die Linke is considered very likely. Against this backdrop, Kretschmer's plea for willingness to engage in dialogue carries additional weight, not least because the CDU governs in minority governments there.

Kretschmer himself draws a sober conclusion from this constellation. "Das Land geht einen katastrophalen Weg," he said – a warning directed both at federal politics and at his own party. His initiative can therefore also be read as an attempt to reposition the CDU in terms of content and strategy without formally rescinding the existing demarcation resolutions.

Overall, a field of tension emerges between the Berlin party line and the realities in the eastern German state parliaments. While Merz relies on the binding effect of party conference resolutions, Kretschmer points to the necessity of being able to talk to anyone willing to talk – well aware that this will put the question of how to deal with Die Linke back on the agenda in the upcoming election campaigns.