Blackberry coalition in Thuringia: A new political mix is ​​emerging!

Blackberry coalition in Thuringia: A new political mix is ​​emerging!

On December 10, 2024, the Thuringian SPD gave its approval to the planned “blackberry coalition” made up of the CDU, BSW and SPD. In an online vote, 68 percent of participating members voted for the alliance, which is seen as quite significant, especially given the heated debates within the party. SPD state leader Georg Maier described the result as “democracy in action”. This clears the way for the election of Mario Voigt, the CDU parliamentary group leader, as the new Prime Minister, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday. However, the coalition, which has 44 of 88 votes in the state parliament, does not have an absolute majority, which could make future government work challenging BR.de reported.

Amid these political upheavals, the need for cooperation with the left, supported by coalition partners, is emphasized. However, this has linked its approval to the condition of a written cooperation agreement, which is rejected in particular by the CDU. In the event of a blockade, the election of Mario Voigt as Prime Minister on Thursday could be complicated as votes from the opposition are needed in the first two rounds. Only in the third round would a relative majority be sufficient. The tensions within the SPD, especially in the left wing, could put additional strain on the coalition agreement, as some members would prefer to oppose it, as shown on Radio LOTTE is noted.

The political situation in Thuringia remains tense: while the approval of the coalition is initially seen as a success, the question is how stable this partnership will actually be given the uncertain majority in the state parliament. Until Thursday's election, it remains to be seen whether the coalition can act in solidarity or whether internal differences will come to light.