CDU and AfD
Kretschmer: The debate about AfD cooperation is not helpful
Saxony’s Prime Minister called for the causes of the AfD’s revival to be taken into account. Why does he think a firewall is not enough.
Saxony Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) criticized the debate about possible cooperation between his party and the partly right-wing AfD as unhelpful. “It’s no use just talking about how to deal with the AfD. It’s important to understand why the AfD has become stronger,” he told the German editorial network.
Later in the interview he added: “We must solve the problems that concern society. Only in this way can faith in the rule of law and democracy be restored. Firewalls will not help us.”
He didn’t want to simply answer the question of whether he would rule out collaboration with the AfD in any form with a yes or no, but he explained: “In recent years, I have given the answer through my actions as Prime Minister. My stance on parties belonging to the right-wing extremists, not only in Saxony, is clear. There is no need to discuss it further with me – I have already shown how I see it.” When asked again, he replied: “I admit I understand that we have to talk about the reasons for the rise of the AfD.”
The party conference resolution does not cover cooperation
The CDU party conference resolution on dealing with the AfD and the Left in 2018 did not include “coalitions and similar forms of cooperation” with either party. A 2020 presidential resolution reaffirming that statement stated: “The following applies to the CDU in Germany: No cooperation with the AfD – neither directly nor indirectly.” At the same time, the CDU’s explanatory paper on the same day stated: “Certain points of contact are unavoidable in everyday parliamentary life.” For example, conscientious decisions of parliamentarians, such as organ donation, can be exemplified.
dpa
