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After allegations: Markus Kurze withdraws from politics in Jerichower Land!
Markus Kurze is withdrawing from politics in Jerichower Land. Allegations of sexual harassment and possible political consequences are in the air.
After allegations: Markus Kurze withdraws from politics in Jerichower Land!
The political landscape in Saxony-Anhalt is in disarray: Markus Kurze, the parliamentary managing director of the CDU state parliamentary group, has announced his resignation after serious allegations of sexual harassment. The move comes in the wake of allegations made at a parliamentary reception last week. In an official statement, Kurze expressed his remorse and announced that he would personally apologize to the woman concerned. At the same time, he said that the allegations were affecting cooperation with other parliamentary groups.
Felix Malter, city spokesman for the city of Burg, confirmed that no assessment of the allegations against Kurze can yet be made. Nevertheless, the Jerichower Land district considers the allegations to be serious and calls for a quick and complete investigation. So far there has been no significant indication from Kurze or other factions as to how the case should be handled further. The district shows great interest in ensuring that these incidents do not have a negative impact on the district's reputation.
Political consequences
The reactions to Kurz's resignation are varied. While Guido Heuer, leader of the CDU Saxony-Anhalt, respects the decision, other political actors show little understanding for the incidents. Eva von Angern, the parliamentary group leader of the Left, described the behavior as “disgusting and unacceptable,” while SPD parliamentary group leader Katja Pähle spoke of “serious allegations” that urgently need to be clarified. The Green parliamentary group is even calling for the creation of an independent ombudsman and awareness training to prevent such incidents in the future.
Markus Kurze is not only active in the state parliament, but also has a long political career in the Jerichower Land district council. He has been a member there since 1999 and has headed the district council group since 2024. At the same time he is also chairman of the city council in Burg. Whether Kurze will continue to hold his political office now depends on his personal decision and the attitude of the district CDU. The municipal constitution law in Saxony-Anhalt regulates that district council members can waive their mandate if there is no trust in them.
A problem in everyday political life
The allegations against Kurze contribute to a fundamental debate about sexual harassment in politics. Political scientist Helga Lukoschat emphasizes that it is time for parties to finally take serious measures against sexism and sexual harassment. In a study, 60% of female politicians under the age of 45 said they had experienced sexual harassment. This is not an isolated case, but a serious issue that should be addressed in every political group. It shows that all parties are required to implement clear measures to protect those affected and to prevent abuse of power.
The Greens, which have attracted more female members in the past, are seen as more sensitive to implementing such measures, while the CDU has come under pressure to also address the issue. The State Women's Council and other organizations have already called for Markus Kurze to resign from all his political positions to avoid further damage.
It remains to be seen what will happen next for Markus Kurze and the political scene in Saxony-Anhalt. It is clear that dealing with these incidents is of central importance for the integrity of political institutions and that a rethink is required in order to regain citizens' trust in politics.