Of all people, Germany’s most famous left-winger is the kingmaker of a possible CDU prime minister in Thuringia? In the first few days after the state election, which resulted in extremely complicated majority relationships and an AfD election winner, speculation is rife about a role for current prime minister Bodo Ramelow (Left) as a possible majority provider.

A coalition aimed at by CDU leader Mario Voigt with the Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) alliance and the SPD has 44 votes in the state parliament in Erfurt – with 88 seats, that is at least one vote too few.

“It’s all nonsense”

Rumors are circulating in the corridors of the Thuringian state parliament and at the party executive board meetings that Ramelow could leave the Left faction in the “civic responsibility” he has always emphasized and serve as a majority provider for the fragile alliance of his potential successor. Or the 68-year-old could always abstain from voting as a directly elected representative of the Left.

“I am only reflecting all the absurd ideas that are floating around,” is what some state politicians say behind closed doors, eagerly repeating the rumors. “It’s all rubbish, it’s all nonsense,” a visibly angry Ramelow told the German Press Agency in Erfurt. “It’s an impertinence to spread rumors without substance. I object to any speculation.”

As the Left’s prime minister and its top candidate, he will neither leave his party or parliamentary group, nor will he personally ensure majorities through abstention or other actions, said Ramelow. And he added: “No one else from the Left parliamentary group will change either.” He is neither a “private citizen nor a one-man company.” And he will never trample on parliamentary rules.

“I will do everything to ensure a majority government”

But he also uttered sentences that could be interpreted in these agitated days in Thuringia. When asked by “Spiegel” that the possible alliance of rival parties CDU, BSW and SPD was one vote short of a majority, he said: “One vote is sitting in front of you.”

And after his experience with his red-red-green minority coalition, he repeatedly stresses that he cannot recommend a minority government to anyone. Red-red-green was voted out on Sunday.

On election night, Ramelow also offered support in forming a government – “if the other parties want that.” “I will do everything I can to ensure that a majority government is formed.” Or: “I am ready to find solutions and will not participate in exclusionism.”

When asked, the Left politician left it open whether this could also be a tolerance of a possible three-party coalition under CDU leadership. Or does he mean by majority government one with the participation of his Left Party, which has twelve seats in the state parliament? Thuringia’s Left Party leader Ulrike Grosse-Röthig is at least calling for a rethink of the CDU’s incompatibility resolution – this currently applies equally to the AfD and the Left Party.

Ramelow waits for CDU call

“I don’t have to speculate,” says Ramelow, pointing out that it is Voigt’s turn to invite the democratic parties to talks. The CDU has received the most seats (23) among the democratic parties and thus the mandate to form a government. His Left Party is ready to talk “if Mr Voigt calls.”

The 47-year-old Voigt wants to speak with BSW and SPD first, and with Ramelow probably only about the draft budget for 2025. Thuringia’s former CDU Prime Minister Christine Lieberknecht at least pleaded for talks with the Left Party. “There is no way around the Left Party for toleration alone. That’s mathematics – nothing else,” she told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND).

Moderator role in coalition poker

Jena political scientist Torsten Oppelland believes that a coalition between the CDU, BSW and SPD – a model that is unique in Germany – is possible. “At the state political level, the political differences between the CDU and Wagenknecht’s party are not that great,” he told the dpa.

Ultimately, the situation is comparable to that of Ramelow in 2020, but with the opposite sign – his alliance with the SPD and the Greens also did not have a majority. At least for one year there was a stability pact with the CDU. Tolerating a CDU-led government by the Left is not an obligation. “But in the end it will come down to that,” believes Oppelland.

And how does Ramelow see his role? First of all, he will remain prime minister until a new government is in office, and after the state parliament is constituted at the end of September he will probably be acting prime minister. And unlike Voigt and right-wing AfD member Björn Höcke, Ramelow won his state constituency directly and says he will take up his mandate as a member of parliament.

In the coalition poker, the experienced politician, former union official and railway mediator Ramelow can apparently imagine a moderating role. “Yes, if that is desired. I can try to get the parties talking,” said Ramelow when asked by dpa. The first challenge is the election of a state parliament president. The strongest party – the AfD – has the right to propose a candidate.