Saxony's Prime Minister Kretschmer rejects Habeck

Economics Minister Habeck starts his tour through Saxony and Thuringia in Leipzig. At the craft fair he is rejected by Saxony's Prime Minister.

Leipzig – “Deal!” announced Robert Habeck on the podium at the craft fair, which the Minister of Economic Affairs visited during his stay in Leipzig. As the World Reportedly, he suggested to the Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer that the Greens and the CDU work together to weaken the debt brake. Kretschmer had previously suggested to Habeck that he should listen to his own experts on economic issues. Habeck replied that they, in turn, would demand exactly that: invest in order to stimulate the economy – a strategy that the FDP, as a traffic light coalition partner, is resisting. But Kretschmer also rejected Habeck's advances.

Kretschmer demands less regulation from Habeck

The Prime Minister compared the Economics Minister's strategy with GDR policy. Instead of “micro-controlling the state,” Kretschmer called for “freedom, competition and openness to technology.” These are words that must have had an impact on the audience at the craft fair. And not just because “GDR politics” is a sensitive topic, especially in new federal states like Saxony. In fact, the Central Association of German Crafts also called for a reduction in bureaucracy on the same podium. “We are regulated at every turn,” said its president Jörg Dittrich in an interview with Habeck.

CDU and Greens in election campaign mode

Habeck's attempt to join forces with the CDU is all about the upcoming state elections. There will be elections in Saxony and Thuringia in September. In the MDR-Saxony trend The AfD was the strongest force in January (35 percent), overtaking the CDU (30 percent). With 37 percent of the seats, it is the largest faction in the Saxon state parliament and governs together with the Greens (10.5 percent) and SPD (8.8 percent). According to the survey, both only get 7 percent. In Thuringia, the AfD was in polls MDR in July at a record high. According to this survey, the left had the biggest losses (12 percent).