Politics · Germany · 3 hrs ago
Thorsten Frei warns CDU lawmakers of consequences over AfD vote
On a German TV talk show, CDU parliamentary leader Thorsten Frei warned his party's state lawmakers in Saxony-Anhalt about a possible vote for AfD politician Ulrich Siegmund.
Siegmund could become the state’s premier, and SPD general secretary Tim Klüssendorf called for a democratic candidate to run against him.
The CDU state group plans to leave the chamber during early rounds of the vote, a move intended to prevent members from helping Siegmund win.
Frei said the group would return for a third round and could vote for a democratic candidate.
He warned that a CDU lawmaker found to have backed Siegmund would face consequences, while stressing that the ballot is secret and there would be no “inquisition.”
The dispute matters because Siegmund’s election would mark a major political change in the state, Klüssendorf said.
The sources do not say when the premier’s vote will take place or name a candidate to run against Siegmund.
Thorsten Frei warned that CDU lawmakers would face consequences if they voted for AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund in Saxony-Anhalt’s minister-president election.
Frei said the CDU parliamentary group would return for a third round of voting and could support a democratic candidate.
The CDU state parliamentary group planned to leave the chamber during voting to prevent defections to Siegmund.
SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf called for a democratic candidate to run against Siegmund.
Frei said the party would not investigate lawmakers because the vote was secret.
- Who
- Thorsten Frei warned CDU lawmakers in Saxony-Anhalt. The possible beneficiary of their votes is AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund.
- What
- Frei said there would be consequences if CDU lawmakers voted for Siegmund.
- When
- Frei made the remarks on Wednesday evening during the talk show Maischberger.
- Where
- The election is in Saxony-Anhalt.
- Why
- The CDU state parliamentary group wanted to prevent its lawmakers from helping Siegmund become minister-president.
CDU parliamentary group
SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf
Candidate
CDU parliamentary group
Frei said the CDU group would return for a third round and could vote for a democratic candidate.
SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf
Klüssendorf called for a democratic candidate to run against Siegmund.
Voting strategy
CDU parliamentary group
The CDU state group planned to leave the chamber during voting to prevent defections to Siegmund.
SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf
Klüssendorf criticized the group’s decision to leave the parliament during the voting rounds.
In the election for state parliament president, the AfD candidate received more votes than the AfD and BSW together.
Frei warned that CDU lawmakers who voted for Siegmund would face consequences.
Frei said the CDU group would return for a third round and could vote for a democratic candidate.
- AfD candidate
- Ulrich Siegmund
- State
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Third round
- The CDU group would return and could vote for a democratic candidate.
- Possible consequence
- Frei warned of consequences for CDU lawmakers who voted for Siegmund.
- Secret ballot
- Frei said the CDU would not conduct an inquisition.
What people are saying
then that will not be without consequences
We are not holding an inquisition here.
unarmed
That absence will later be in the history books, and I would be ashamed of it.
Posts on X
„Also, wenn ich mir das in den Geschichtsbüchern mal ansehe, dass die CDU einfach rausgegangen ist und nicht dabei war, dann würde ich mich schämen", so Tim Klüssendorf (SPD) zum Plan der CDU, bei der Ministerpräsidentenwahl in Sachsen-Anhalt den Saal zu verlassen. #maischberger