Overview
- Multiple outlets citing the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung report that Reiner Haseloff plans to resign at the end of January so Economics Minister and CDU state chair Sven Schulze can seek election as minister-president.
- Government spokesman Matthias Schuppe said CDU, SPD and FDP leaders will meet Monday to decide the course of action, adding that Haseloff will not accept any outcome that yields a minority government.
- According to dpa, the change requires written assurances that the coalition agreement continues under Schulze and that the current distribution of ministries remains unchanged.
- Schulze told MDR he could not confirm the report, while SPD and FDP figures reacted cautiously and stressed that any switch must be clarified within the coalition.
- The potential move sets up the September 6 election in a state where recent polls show the AfD near 40 percent support and the CDU well behind.