Kretschmer Wants to Support the CDU's Election Campaign in the East

Saxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) would like to campaign for his party colleagues in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. He recently caused a stir when he explicitly praised the work of his SPD counterpart, Manuela Schwesig, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. “I very much hope that the CDU will play a strong role in the next government,” Kretschmer told the German Press Agency in Dresden.

It may be unusual to praise an SPD colleague, he noted. But the truth is also that she is one of the most assertive colleagues and has achieved a great deal, Kretschmer said. “But you can tell that the state needs momentum, it needs change. When I look at the Union’s election platform—for example, on education policy and rural areas—I say: Thank goodness, there really is a fresh spirit there.”

Kretschmer Confident of Sven Schulze’s Victory

In the case of Saxony-Anhalt, Kretschmer is confident that his party colleague Sven Schulze will remain Minister-President. “Through his work and his commitment, he has shown how capable he is and that he is the one who can resolve issues in Berlin. Sven Schulze speaks his mind clearly.” In the end, he said, that will be the deciding factor for many voters in Saxony-Anhalt and will be rewarded at the state election. 

A vacation atmosphere in the north and Baumkuchen in Saxony-Anhalt

Kretschmer admitted with a wink that he also appreciates campaigning in other states for other reasons: “Campaigning in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania isn’t a burden—it’s a bit like a vacation.” A visit to Saxony-Anhalt is worth it if only because they bake Baumkuchen in Salzwedel. “I’m a big fan of Baumkuchen. The best Baumkuchen is probably in my home region of Upper Lusatia. But I like to try the others for comparison.”