Jan van Aken, leader of Die Linke, rules out a coalition with the CDU in the upcoming Saxony-Anhalt state election to block an AfD government. Instead, he is open to supporting a CDU-led minority government on specific issues, provided there is no cooperation with the AfD.
Jan van Aken, co-chair of Die Linke, stated in an interview with the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) that his party will not form a coalition with the CDU in the Saxony-Anhalt state election. The reason: Such an alliance could enable an AfD government, which currently leads in polls. Van Aken emphasized: "We won't even do a formal toleration. But on the condition that they guarantee no majorities with the AfD, we will push through individual things – if we see some of our demands met."
This model of "constructive opposition" is already in practice in Thuringia and Saxony. In Saxony, a minority coalition of CDU and SPD relies on support from the Greens, BSW, or Linke. In Thuringia, the coalition of CDU, BSW, and SPD holds exactly half the seats, with Die Linke forming the only opposition faction alongside the AfD.
The CDU generally rejects coalitions with Die Linke, based on the 2018 incompatibility resolution. Yet, in practice, there have been point-by-point collaborations on individual issues. Similar challenges may arise after the autumn elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where the AfD leads and the CDU is second in Saxony-Anhalt.
Van Aken also sees opportunities for Die Linke elsewhere: In Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, the party aims to enter parliament. In Berlin's house of representatives election, it targets becoming the strongest force, with top candidate Elif Eralp as potential mayor. For the 2028 federal election, he plans at least 15 percent, up from 8.8 percent in 2025.
