Elections will take place in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6th. According to current surveys, the AfD could become the strongest force in the state parliament for the first time. Reiner Haseloff (CDU), who had already passed on his duties as Prime Minister to former Economics Minister Sven Schulze at the end of January, is no longer standing for election.

With a view to a possible electoral success for the AfD, Haseloff says on “Markus Lanz”: “It’s about everything. It’s about this country, our country, our democracy.”

At the same time, he is convinced: “I am pretty sure that an absolute majority (…) cannot be achieved for the AfD in this country.”

He locates the reasons for the current survey results in two main areas: “The crucial points that currently determine these survey results are the economic development in connection with the migration issue.”

Haseloff rails against the AfD, Lanz dryly: “That’s called democracy”

Then Haseloff gets loud. He is outraged: “The AfD determines – with the exception of Schleswig-Holstein – who can govern in all parliaments! It can’t be that this party determines all constellations in this Federal Republic of Germany at the state and federal level! Where have we gotten to?”

Lanz reacts dryly: “Mr. Haseloff, it’s called democracy.” Haseloff countered: “That’s why we have to take the issues away from them and solve the issues!”

Lanz doesn’t want to leave this uncommented and notes: “You are provoking the comment: You yourself were in a leading position for 15 years.” Haseloff agrees, but at the same time refers to the federal government: “I am, so to speak, dissatisfied with the result and (…) the speed of the federal government’s work, because it has to be done faster – also in view of our election results.”

Then it’s about handing over the office to Sven Schulze. There was a lot of criticism because the transition was sudden and abrupt. Lanz: “Was this handover from Reiner Haseloff to his successor Sven Schulze too late?” Journalist Anne Hähnig clearly confirms this: “The transition was very late.”

“I’m not pissed off at all”: Lanz puts Reiner Haseloff in trouble

Lanz asks Haseloff: “There would have been a much more elegant way of transitioning.” However, he evades the idea and emphasizes that they are now concentrating on the election campaign. Then Lanz asks: “What is the truth about the rumor that you were actually intended to be economics minister in the Merz cabinet?” Here too, Haseloff answers evasively: “There was certainly a consideration in East German CDU circles at the time as to what form the new federal states wanted and should be included in a cabinet.” The ZDF presenter counters energetically: “That’s your life’s theme! Visibility, audibility East Germans!”

Haseloff also blocks this and makes it clear: “I will not comment further on this. There were considerations about it and the decision was made by the Chancellor and therefore these are now the facts and this cabinet must now work successfully.” When Lanz wants to know whether he would have “done it,” Haseloff finally says: “I was at least fundamentally prepared to think about it – if I had received this suggestion.”

For him it is now “cold coffee”. Lanz contradicts: The coffee isn’t that cold. That would have been an incredibly elegant transition! (…) I know a little about your temperament. You’re pissed off, Mr. Haseloff.” But the CDU man sticks to it: “I’m not pissed off at all!”