Schulze: The East Needs a Strong Voice in Berlin

Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister President Sven Schulze has announced closer cooperation among the three eastern German states. “Especially on issues that particularly affect people in eastern Germany, we will act together much more frequently in the future and represent our interests with a strong voice in Berlin,” the CDU politician told the German Press Agency. The state leaders of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia plan to present a joint statement at a meeting today; the statement has been made available to the German Press Agency. Specifically, the statement addresses the preservation of full pensions after 45 years of contributions and the affordability of long-term care.

Eastern Germany’s Experiences: An Asset for Germany

It is important to him that the East be perceived by the rest of the country “as a reliable partner that takes responsibility and actively shapes the future of our country,” Schulze said. ““We have proven over the past decades that we can shape change. This experience is a real asset for all of Germany.”

The state premiers—Mario Voigt of Thuringia, Sven Schulze of Saxony-Anhalt, and Michael Kretschmer of Saxony—had approached the federal government regarding the upcoming social reforms. They are calling on the federal government not to abolish the full pension after 45 years of contributions—as recommended by the Pension Commission. In addition, they say a way should be found to ensure that long-term care remains affordable in the future, even in areas where retirement incomes are low.

New Poll on State Election in Saxony-Anhalt

The meeting between Schulze, Voigt, and Kretschmer is taking place today in southern Saxony-Anhalt. The state is facing an important state election in September. With just over five weeks to go before the election, the AfD remains well ahead, according to the latest poll. In the latest “Sachsen-AnhaltTREND” survey by the polling firm Infratest dimap, commissioned by MDR, WDR, “Magdeburger Volksstimme,” and “Mitteldeutsche Zeitung,” the party remains at 41 percent, thus maintaining its lead over the CDU. Compared to the last poll in May, the CDU has lost two percentage points and now stands at 24 percent.