This decision follows the CDU’s emergence as the leading party in the state for the first time in 35 years during the March 22 elections. CDU candidate Gordon Schnieder and incumbent Minister-President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) announced the formation of working groups to draft a coalition agreement based on a preliminary document. Both parties have ruled out a coalition with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), as other potential alliances lack a parliamentary majority.