CDU Saxony-Anhalt: State Women's Council calls for CDU politician Kurze to resign

The State Women's Council and the State Network of Migrant Organizations of Saxony-Anhalt have called on Magdeburg CDU politician Markus Kurze to resign from all political offices. The reason for this is an alleged sexual harassment at the Magdeburg State Parliament's summer party on Thursday evening. The CDU politician therefore submitted a written resignation as parliamentary manager of the CDU parliamentary group over the weekend.

Such behavior is incompatible with an office that bears responsibility for others, said Michelle Angeli, a Green Party politician and chairwoman of the State Women's Council. "Those who behave in this way not only demonstrate a lack of respect for the woman affected, but also for everyone who needs to feel safe in political spaces – regardless of gender, position, or dependency." Angeli continued, the incident must be an occasion for "political self-reflection and structural consequences." "Those affected by harassment deserve our solidarity – and above all, concrete protection mechanisms."

According to media reports, Kurze allegedly harassed a female staffer from another parliamentary group by putting her fingers in his mouth. The CDU politician was heavily intoxicated. The woman perceived this as a serious violation of her boundaries, according to those present at the event, according to the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung. Kurze justified his resignation by arguing that close cooperation with the other parliamentary groups—a key requirement of his position—was no longer guaranteed.

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