CDU boss Friedrich Merz, with controversial statements, ensures heated debates about a possible cooperation with the AfD

CDU boss Friedrich Merz, with controversial statements, ensures heated debates about a possible cooperation with the AfD

AfD politicians speak against cooperation with CDU from

The controversial statements by CDU boss Friedrich Merz for a possible cooperation with the AfD have caused discussions both within the party and in German domestic politics. In this debate about a possible “fire wall” to the populist forces, leading AfD politicians have clearly spoken out against working with the Union.

Stephan Brandner, deputy AfD chairman, emphasized in an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung" (FAS) his rejection of an approximation to the CDU: "I personally see no reason to approach the CDU. They had their chance far too long." He continued and emphasized that everyone had the opportunity to improve, but the CDU was not yet ready. In addition, he did not know why the AfD, which has been doing politics for Germany for many years, should approach those who did politics against Germany.

The Hessian AfD chairman Andreas Lichert also spoke out against a collaboration. He called for a serious and credible correction of the CDU to make it coalition. In addition, Lichert criticized that the younger Union politicians have no potential for a collaboration, since they were already completely "green" and would no longer be embodied.

Benedikt Kaiser, a new right-wing activist and employee of AfD MP Jürgen Pohl, warned the AfD against repeating the mistakes of other right-wing populist parties such as the FPÖ in Austria or VOX in Spain. He emphasized that the AfD could learn from the recent history of other partner parties that should not be done.

Hessen's AfD chairman Lichert also commented on the possibility of a government participation of the AfD. He believes that this would harm the party, even if an AfD minister was sitting in the cabinet. He justifies this with the fact that this minister could not work successfully due to the resistance of the ministerial bureaucracy. "Be careful what you wish for" (be careful what you want), he warned.

It is known that the AfD has been doing greatly in surveys for weeks. According to a current YouGov survey, the party for the party is 23 percent nationwide. A survey by the ARD "Germany trend" confirmed this trend and showed a new maximum value for the AfD with 21 percent. However, another survey shows that the majority of Germans reject a government participation of the AfD. Nevertheless, the openness of other parties for a possible cooperation with the AfD in individual cases increases.

This survey was carried out before the debate about the controversial statements by Merz in the ZDF summer interview. Merz had emphasized in the fact that one had to accept the election sequence of the AfD and look for ways together how to work together in local parliaments.

After violent criticism, also within her own ranks, Merz emphasized that the incompatibility decision of the CDU, which excludes cooperation with the AfD, continued to be valid. This decision was taken at a party congress in 2018.