CDU Saxony-Anhalt caucus leader Schulze under pressure over controversial affidavit

The CDU parliamentary group in Saxony-Anhalt is embroiled in a dispute over a sworn declaration following secret ballots. Group leader Sven Schulze is coming under pressure over his account of events.

Schulze Denies Initiating the Document

Saxony-Anhalt's CDU parliamentary group leader and acting Minister-President Sven Schulze has spoken in greater detail for the first time about the controversial sworn declaration that followed the election of two AfD politicians to the state parliament presidium. In an interview with the Magdeburg Volksstimme, he again denied having initiated the document. At the same time, he stated that he would have supported the initiative had his parliamentary group approved it. His remarks have drawn contradiction from within the group.

The document would have required the 15 CDU state parliament members to affirm "on oath" at the group meeting on October 13 that they had made neither "reliable agreements with representatives of the AfD regarding the election on October 6 and beyond" nor voted for Tobias Rausch as state parliament president and Hans-Thomas Tillschneider as vice president. In the event of a proven false statement, the paper contained a far-reaching obligation: "Should it be proven that matters are different from what is declared, I will immediately resign my mandate." According to participants, the document was introduced by the group's economic policy spokesman, Ulrich Thomas.

AfD Election Raises Questions

The two AfD politicians were elected in early October with more votes than the AfD holds seats in the new Saxony-Anhalt state parliament. Since then, there has been discussion about whether those votes might have come from the CDU. The group has consistently denied this. The vote was secret.

Schulze: "I Remained Neutral Throughout the Entire Debate"

"If the group had decided in favor of it, I would have submitted a signed document," Schulze told the Volksstimme.

After the paper was distributed, a heated debate broke out. "I remained neutral throughout the entire debate," Schulze emphasized.

According to the newspaper, several members dispute this account. They describe the group leader as having signed the text without hesitation once it was placed before him. "I couldn't believe it," one member said. "That has nothing to do with neutrality."

Criticism from Within the Union – Rausch Considering Legal Steps

In the end, the paper was collected again and the initiative abandoned. But there is considerable criticism of Schulze's conduct. Former CDU Bundestag member Wolfgang Bosbach had demanded on WELT TV: "When such a paper is circulated, in whatever grouping of the Union, there can only be one response: straight into the shredder."

According to the Volksstimme report, State Parliament President Rausch is having it examined whether the matter could be criminally relevant as attempted coercion of elected representatives. A corresponding legal assessment is still pending.

Tensions Within the CDU Group

The dispute is exacerbating tensions within the CDU parliamentary group. After the state election, Schulze was elected group leader in a contested vote against incumbent Guido Heuer by eight votes to seven. According to members, the group is also expected to address his political future on Tuesday. CDU politicians are calling for his resignation.

Asked about a possible resignation, Schulze referred the Volksstimme to a letter to the party base: "I have written a letter to all party members and asked them to give me a chance."

AfD Plans Minister-President Election in December

In December, the AfD intends to have its lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund elected as the first AfD Minister-President. In the first and second rounds of voting, he needs an absolute majority of 42 votes. The AfD has 39 members, and the BSW intends to abstain. Siegmund would therefore depend on at least three votes from other parties.

The CDU group had agreed to leave the chamber during the first two rounds of voting. However, Schulze's rival Heuer announced that he would participate in the vote. There is also criticism within the party of the plan. Former Interior Minister Holger Stahlknecht told WELT that it does not correspond to his understanding of the state to withdraw from a vote every time in such situations.

ll with dpa