Praise for dealing with AfD
Gabriel calls for Kretschmer to be elected in Saxony
January 5, 2024, 7:52 p.m
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The SPD in Saxony has to worry about entering the state parliament in the upcoming election. Former party leader Gabriel would vote for CDU Prime Minister Kretschmer. He is particularly impressed by his dealings with the AfD.
Former SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel has called for support for the state’s CDU Prime Minister, Michael Kretschmer, with a view to the state elections in Saxony in September. “The only person I know for whom I would campaign as a Social Democrat is the CDU Prime Minister in Saxony,” he told WDR. He praised his dealings with the right-wing populist AfD.
“He’s going into the street election campaign and the hand-to-hand fight with the AfD and won’t let himself be scared away or intimidated,” said Gabriel. “We need guys like that now.” Gabriel called it “unbelievable” that more people in Germany didn’t oppose the AfD given the high poll numbers.
Former Economics and Foreign Minister Gabriel also called on the current SPD leadership to support Kretschmer. “It would be easy for the Bundestag to think about what we can actually do for this country and for this Prime Minister so that he shows that he is successful and gets elected,” he continued to tell WDR. “To do this you would have to skip the party political little diamond.” The common goal must be to weaken the AfD.
Kretschmer has repeatedly been accused by the SPD and the Greens, among others, of adopting AfD narratives, for example in refugee policy or in dealing with Russia. Among other things, the Saxon Prime Minister is promoting efforts to resume gas deliveries from Russia. He was also critical of the planned energy transition, which is intended to achieve Germany’s climate goals. Kretschmer’s statements that a clear demarcation from the AfD at the local level could not be maintained were also met with opposition.
Surveys currently see the AfD in Saxony at up to 37 percent, clearly ahead of the CDU. Gabriel’s SPD party has to worry about returning to the Dresden state parliament. Kretschmer is currently ruling at the head of a black-red-green state government.