ABSTRACT

Die Linke co-leader Luigi Pantisano said on Sunday that his socialist party would consider supporting the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to prevent the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) from forming a government in Saxony-Anhalt, where regional elections are scheduled for September 6 and the AfD is polling at over 40 percent, placing it on course for an absolute majority in the state parliament.

Deutsche Welle

Germany's Die Linke open to backing CDU to block AfD majority in Saxony-Anhalt

Aug 9, 2026, 12:05 PM

Context

Were the AfD to secure an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt, it would represent Germany's first far-right state government since World War II, according to the article.

Pantisano made the remarks on public broadcaster ZDF with less than a month remaining before the vote. He has previously accused the CDU of implementing what he described as 'fascist politics,' making any potential cooperation with that party notable.

If the AfD falls short of an absolute majority, CDU incumbent state Premier Sven Schulze would likely need to form a coalition, with Die Linke identified as a possible partner.

The AfD has never held government at state or federal level. All other established German parties maintain a policy, known as the 'firewall,' of refusing to govern alongside the AfD.

CDU state premier and candidate Sven Schulze has criticized the AfD over xenophobia and highlighted Saxony-Anhalt's reliance on exports and foreign workers, according to the article.

In a separate story, Germany's new transport minister Steffen Bilger said on Sunday he intends to link bonus payments for Deutsche Bahn managers to government-set punctuality targets. In 2025, only 60 percent of Deutsche Bahn trains arrived on time or with delays under six minutes, excluding canceled or prematurely terminated services. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government is preparing a new financing agreement for the state-owned railway operator tied to specific targets.

The Social Democrats, junior coalition partners in the Merz government, expressed support for the proposed measure. SPD lawmaker Isabel Cademartori said she welcomed the plan and called on the railway to become more reliable in return for record infrastructure investment.

Bilger was appointed transport minister following a cabinet reshuffle last month prompted by the resignation of senior CDU lawmaker Jens Spahn over a surrogacy scandal.

Germany's trade deficit with China widened to approximately €55 billion ($63.6 billion) in the first half of 2026, up from €40 billion in the same period of 2025, according to preliminary data from the state agency Germany Trade and Invest. German exports to China fell more than 12 percent year-on-year while imports from China rose 8.9 percent. China remains Germany's top trading partner but has fallen to ninth place as a destination for German goods, with smaller economies such as Austria and Switzerland buying more German exports. As recently as 2021, China was Germany's second-largest export market. The United States remains Germany's single-largest foreign market despite a decline in German exports there linked to protectionist tariffs.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, 63, said he would not be intimidated by threats to his safety, telling DPA that those unable to handle pressure do not belong in his field. Papperger is reportedly under constant police protection at a level comparable to that afforded to Chancellor Merz, and is believed to be a potential target of Russian plots. Germany's domestic intelligence services have called on defense sector employees to remain vigilant against espionage and sabotage by Russian state agencies.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced a new drone security research facility to be established on August 18 at a German Aerospace Center test airport in Saxony-Anhalt. Dobrindt cited an 'arms race in drone technology' and said the center would develop and test protective technologies. His statement follows several drone incidents in the preceding week.

Several German states — North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland — lifted the standard Sunday motorway ban on most trucks, citing low river water levels hampering cargo shipping. The suspension in NRW and Lower Saxony runs until August 31; in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland until September 30 at the latest. NRW also extended a daytime Saturday exemption during summer holidays.

Algerian authorities announced on Saturday that a German national kidnapped in Niger approximately two weeks earlier had been recovered by the Algerian military and transported to the Boufarik military base near Algiers. Algeria's Defense Ministry said he was in good health and would be handed to German authorities at a later date. No details were provided on how the individual was freed. The German Foreign Ministry said it was aware of the case but declined to comment on abduction cases involving German citizens abroad.

Berlin police are investigating two shooting incidents: shots fired at a hairdressing salon and a nearby nightclub in Marzahn-Hellersdorf with no injuries reported, and a separate incident in Kreuzberg on Friday in which a 22-year-old man was shot and injured by an assailant who fled. Homicide investigators are examining possible links to previous shootings in the area. Berlin established its Ferrum specialist gun crime unit in 2025.

Hundreds of participants took part in Berlin's first World Naked Bike Ride on Sunday, cycling in various states of undress from Mauerpark in eastern Berlin through the government district to the Schönefeld neighborhood near Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Organizers described the event as promoting tolerance, self-acceptance, environmental protection, and inclusion.

All Perspectives

Die Linke (Luigi Pantisano): Pantisano said Die Linke would do anything in its power to keep the AfD out of office and would consider supporting the CDU to achieve that goal, despite having recently accused the CDU of implementing 'fascist politics.' He told ZDF: 'We, The Left, have shown in recent years that we take responsibility for this country.'

CDU / Sven Schulze: Saxony-Anhalt state premier and CDU candidate Sven Schulze criticized the AfD for xenophobia and highlighted the state's dependence on exports and foreign workers, according to the article.

Transport Minister Steffen Bilger (CDU): Bilger said bonus payments for Deutsche Bahn managers would be affected if government-set punctuality targets are not met. He told Bild: 'There will be a concrete impact on the bonus payments of rail managers if the targets set by the federal government are not met. I think rail customers and taxpayers have a right to have success genuinely measured.'

SPD (Isabel Cademartori): Cademartori expressed support for tying manager bonuses to punctuality, saying: 'I expressly welcome the fact that Transport Minister Bilger wants to link the bonus payments of rail managers to punctuality. People expect the railway to become more reliable. As politicians, we are providing record investments in infrastructure and expect this to be reflected in punctuality.'

NRW Transport Minister Oliver Krischer: Krischer said the lifting of the Sunday truck ban 'allows us to ensure that delivery chains are maintained and supply shortages are avoided.'

Verdi union (Uwe Köpke): Köpke, head of Verdi's postal services, freight forwarding and logistics department, criticized the suspension of the Sunday truck ban, saying: 'This measure comes at the cost of employees in the transport and logistics branch and calls into question the legal protection of Sundays and public holidays as days of rest and recreation.'

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger: Papperger told DPA that 'these jobs must be done, and anyone that can't take the pressure doesn't belong in this job,' adding that 'chickening out' was not an option in his field.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt: Dobrindt told Bild that 'the arms race in drone technology requires dedicated research units to keep pace,' announcing the establishment of a new drone security research facility at a DLR test airport in Saxony-Anhalt on August 18.

German Foreign Ministry: A spokesperson said the ministry was aware of the kidnapping case involving the German national in Niger but stated that the government 'does not comment on cases involving the abduction of German citizens abroad.'

Algeria Defense Ministry: Algeria's Defense Ministry stated that the German national kidnapped in Niger was recovered by the Algerian army's security services, was in 'good health,' had been transported to the Boufarik military base, and would be handed to German authorities 'at a later date.'

Position not represented in the source reporting: AfD — the party central to the Saxony-Anhalt election story is not quoted or given an opportunity to respond to Die Linke's statements or to the CDU's criticism.

Gaps & Unknowns

No response or comment from the AfD is included regarding the prospect of being blocked from government in Saxony-Anhalt.
No details are provided on the circumstances of the German national's kidnapping in Niger or the manner of his release.
The source does not specify which industrial associations welcomed the lifting of the truck ban or provide their statements.
No information is provided on Deutsche Bahn's response to the proposed bonus-punctuality linkage.
The source does not detail the specific drone incidents that prompted the announcement of the new research facility.
No details are given on the nature of the threats made against Rheinmetall CEO Papperger beyond the mention of a fire set in his garden shed.
The source text supplied appears truncated; some material may be missing.

Sources & Further Reading

Deutsche Welle — original

Read the original at Deutsche Welle

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