Kretschmer: Debate about AfD cooperation does not help

Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) has criticized the debate about possible cooperation between his party and the far-right AfD as unhelpful. "There is no point in always talking about how to deal with the AfD. It is important to understand why it has grown stronger," he told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.

Later in the interview, he added: "We have to solve the issues that concern the population. Only then will trust in the rule of law and democracy return. Firewalls won't help us."

He did not want to answer the question of whether he would rule out cooperation with the AfD in any form with a simple yes or no, but explained: "In recent years, I have given the answer through my actions as Minister President. My stance on a party that is not only categorized as right-wing extremist in Saxony is clear. There's no need to talk to me about it any further - I've shown how I see it." When asked again, he replied: "I acknowledge that I have understood that we need to talk about the reasons for the AfD's rise."

Party conference resolution rules out cooperation

A CDU party conference resolution on dealing with the AfD and the Left from 2018 rules out "coalitions and similar forms of cooperation" with both parties. A reaffirming Executive Committee resolution from 2020 states: "For the CDU in Germany, there is no cooperation with the AfD - neither in direct nor indirect form." At the same time, an explanatory CDU paper from the same day states: "Certain points of contact cannot be avoided in everyday parliamentary life." As an example, reference is made to decisions of conscience by MPs, such as organ donation.