Chancellor Friedrich Merz has firmly rejected calls from members of his conservative party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), to reconsider its longstanding policy of refusing to engage with the right extremist Alternative for Germany (AfD). He stated that this party has no commonalities with his conservative values. The AfD, which has secured second place in the national elections in February and is showing an ongoing increase in support, now positions itself at or above the success of Merz’s Union bloc. This growing support for the AfD could potentially shift the political dynamics in Germany, posing a significant challenge to the CDU’s traditional dominance.
The governing coalition, which has been in place for nearly six months and includes the centre-left Social Democrats, has faced significant criticism from voters due to various public disagreements on key issues. Next year, five of Germany’s 16 states are scheduled to hold regional elections, including two in the formerly communist eastern regions, where the AfD is especially strong and has favourable prospects for a leading position.
In 2018, a convention of CDU formally rejected any coalitions or similar collaborations with both the AfD and the Left Party, which occupies the opposite end of the political spectrum. This decision, known as the 2018 resolution, was a response to the increasing polarisation in German politics and the rise of the AfD. As The Associated Press notes, it limits the CDU’s maneuverability in an evolving political landscape characterised by the increasing rarity of majoritarian coalitions composed of ideologically aligned parties.
Recently, some conservative voices, including former CDU General Secretary Peter Tauber and former Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, have advocated for a more accommodating stance toward the AfD. Tauber proposed a “new policy of red lines” to allow the CDU to make decisions that could potentially secure the support of the far-right party.
However, Chancellor Merz has confirmed that the party leadership stands firmly behind the 2018 resolution, stating, “We will not change anything,” despite appeals from what he termed “a few marginal figures.” He emphasised, “There is no common ground between this party and us.” Following a meeting of the CDU leadership, he dismissed the notion that the CDU could advance its priorities in collaboration with the AfD, outlining that the right extremist party opposes not only recent policies but also fundamental decisions that have shaped the success of modern Germany.
The AfD has persistently sought to dismantle the so-called ‘firewall’ that prohibits cooperation with the far-right. This ‘firewall’ is a political principle that has been a cornerstone of German politics, aiming to prevent the normalisation of far-right ideologies.
Merz articulated that the AfD’s overtures are disingenuous, stating that their ‘outstretched hand is, in reality, a hand that wants to destroy us.’ He acknowledged that his coalition has engaged in ‘too many public discussions’ since assuming office in May, focusing on revitalising Germany’s stagnant economy and addressing irregular migration. He remarked, ‘These discussions obscure the important initiatives the government has initiated in recent months.’
Despite being designated as a right-wing extremist organisation by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, which temporarily suspended the classification following a legal challenge from the AfD, the party’s support has nonetheless remained robust. In addition, the extremist tendency that operates inside the party increasingly enhances its influence on both members and voters.
Moreover, AfD is fully aligned with Russia’s views towards Ukraine, Europe and NATO and acts as an “agent” of Russia within Germany.
(This article used information from the Associated Press)
