East German CDU politicians call for a different approach to the AfD

Several East German CDU politicians have joined the call for a different approach to the AfD. The parliamentary group leader in the Thuringian state parliament, Andreas Bühl, told the "Bild" newspaper: "If a law that was found to be correct based on factual considerations and after democratic deliberation also meets with approval from the political fringes, that is no reason to revise it." Those who base their policies solely on who approves of them are confusing morality with politics.

The parliamentary group leader in neighboring Saxony, Christian Hartmann, told the newspaper that the CDU must "find its own position beyond all firewall debates and then implement it consistently". Saxony's CDU General Secretary Tom Unger criticized the way in which all other parties had dealt with the AfD in recent years had not led to it becoming weaker.

Member of the Bundestag Ludwig: Allow majorities for motions

Brandenburg CDU member of the Bundestag Saskia Ludwig also called for a different approach to the AfD. "That means first granting it democratic rights such as committee chairs and vice presidents. That already exists in the federal states." It is not about a coalition, "but about allowing majorities for good proposals".

A debate about how to deal with and cooperate with the AfD flared up again in the CDU/CSU at the beginning of the week. Formerly influential CDU politicians, including former CDU Secretary General Peter Tauber and former Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU), had spoken out in favour of relaxing the so-called firewall against the AfD. Other prominent leading politicians in the CDU/CSU categorically rejected such considerations.

The debate is not new. In January, the CDU/CSU tried to push through a tightening of migration policy in the Bundestag. A motion only achieved a majority because the AfD also voted in favor. Federal Chancellor and CDU party leader Friedrich Merz later expressed regret about this.

After the federal party's incompatibility resolution from 2018, the CDU rejects coalitions and similar forms of cooperation with the AfD and the Left.