East German CDU members Challenge PartyS Strict Stance on AfD Cooperation
A growing rift within the christian Democratic Union (CDU) is surfacing as East German party members advocate for a reassessment of the long-held “firewall” against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The internal debate centers on whether to strategically engage with the AfD on specific policy issues, despite the CDU’s official rejection of any coalition or formal cooperation.
the discussion gained momentum this week with Saskia Ludwig, a CDU member, publicly suggesting granting the AfD standard democratic rights within parliamentary committees, including committee chairs and vice presidencies-a practice she notes already exists in some German states. Ludwig’s argument, echoed by other figures, isn’t about forming alliances, but about securing majorities for “good proposals” irrespective of their origin.this internal challenge comes as prominent former Union politicians, including ex-CDU General Secretary Peter Tauber and former Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU), have also recently called for a more nuanced approach to dealing with the AfD, prompting strong opposition from other leading CDU figures.
The debate isn’t isolated. In January, the CDU attempted to tighten migration policy in the Bundestag, and a motion passed only with the unexpected support of AfD votes. CDU party leader Friedrich Merz later expressed regret over the outcome, reaffirming the party’s 2018 decision to preclude coalitions or similar cooperation with both the AfD and the Left party. However, the incident highlighted the potential for policy successes-and the political fallout-when the CDU relies on AfD support. The current internal discussion signals a potential shift in how some within the CDU view the practicality and long-term consequences of maintaining a rigid exclusion of the afd from legislative influence.
