Michael Kretschmer Reelected as Prime Minister of Saxony in Second Voting Round

In a decisive second round of voting, Michael Kretschmer has successfully retained his position as Prime Minister of Saxony. This outcome follows an initial round where Kretschmer received 55 votes, while his opponent, Urban from the AfD, garnered 40 votes, and Berger secured six. The voting process saw seven abstentions, and due to the confidential nature of the ballot, the specific voting patterns remain undisclosed.

Speculation suggests that several members of the AfD switched their support from Urban to Berger in the second round, while it is believed that many representatives from other factions opted to vote for Kretschmer, aiming to prevent Berger from being elected with critical support from the AfD. Prior to the first round of voting, both the AfD and the Greens had made it clear that they would not support Kretschmer, although the Greens hinted they might reconsider in subsequent rounds. The coalition known as the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) noted their intention to allow members to choose between Kretschmer and Berger, having ruled out unified support for Urban.

The Left party announced their support for Kretschmer just before the election, emphasizing a conditional endorsement rather than an unconditional one. Fraktionschefin Susanne Schaper articulated that while they are granting Kretschmer a vote of confidence, they would not be issuing a blank check. She referred to the historical reluctance of the CDU to collaborate on proposals within the Landtag but acknowledged a potential shift in Kretschmer's approach.

Following the state elections held in September, the CDU, BSW, and SPD were viewed as potential coalition partners; however, discussions faltered due to differing views on foreign policy. As a result, the CDU and SPD opted to establish a minority government. The CDU emerged as the leading party in the elections with 31.9 percent of the vote, narrowly ahead of the AfD, which secured a similar share. In the Landtag, the CDU holds 41 seats, one more than the AfD, while the BSW is represented by 15 members and the SPD has 10. The Greens and the Left party have seven and six representatives, respectively, with the Free Voters featuring Matthias Berger.

This reelection is significant in the context of Saxony's political landscape, as it reflects ongoing negotiations and shifting alliances among the parties. Kretschmer's ability to navigate the complexities of coalition dynamics and maintain a majority support underscores the challenges ahead as he leads the government in addressing both internal and external political issues.