Germany’s CDU party, led by Friedrich Merz, vows to limit the influence of the far-right AfD in the upcoming election, promising no cooperation or coalition with the party. As tensions rise, environmental and left-leaning parties gain momentum after Merz’s controversial move.
The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in Germany has adopted an ‘immediate program’ on immigration and the economy that its candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz, wants to implement after the February 23 election.
The CDU’s Bavarian sister party, the CSU, is part of Merz’s conservative bloc, which includes the ‘no cooperation, there is no tolerance, there is no minority government, nothing at all’ when it comes to working with the far-right ‘Alternative for Germany (AfD)’.
Addressing the CDU conference in Berlin, Merz promised that his party would do everything in this election campaign to make the AfD ‘as small as possible again’.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is a right-wing populist party in Germany.
Founded in 2013, it has gained significant influence in the country's politics.
The party's ideology emphasizes anti-immigration and eurosceptic views.
According to a 2020 survey, AfD received over 10% of the votes in federal elections.
This has led to the party holding seats in the German Bundestag.
The AfD's rise is attributed to concerns about immigration, economic instability, and disillusionment with mainstream parties.
On Germany’s economy, which has shrunk for the last two years, Merz said policy would be judged on whether it ‘serves to strengthen the competitiveness of our industry or harm it’.
The goal of his party is to lead Germany forward again, according to Merz.
Bavarian State Premier Markus Söder on Monday said only the CDU/CSU alliance could stem the growth of the AfD. ‘We must not leave our country to the AfD,’ he told the conference, reiterating that the bloc would continue to rule out coalitions with the AfD.
Critics have accused Merz and his party of breaking a long-standing ‘firewall’ in Germany preventing mainstream cooperation with the far right. Demonstrators outside the CDU conference held aloft letters spelling out the German word for shame, while tens of thousands of protesters took part in mass rallies across Germany.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) have a complex history of cooperation.
In 2015, the CDU's Angela Merkel formed a grand coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD), but the AfD's rise in popularity led to tensions between the two parties.
Despite their ideological differences, they collaborated on several legislative initiatives, including immigration and asylum policies.
However, their alliance was marked by controversy, particularly regarding the treatment of refugees.
The CDU ultimately distanced itself from the AfD due to its increasingly radical stance.
The recent announcement of an alliance between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has sparked widespread protests across Germany.
The coalition, which aims to address economic and social issues, has been met with fierce resistance from citizens who fear the 'far-right ideology' will undermine democratic values.
Protests have taken place in major cities, including Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, with demonstrators calling for the rejection of this alliance.
As tensions rise, German politicians are under pressure to address the concerns of their constituents.
The AfD’s support for the CDU/CSU’s nonbinding motion in parliament to severely restrict irregular migration was a historic first that sparked protests across the country. Environmentalist and left-leaning parties have gained members after Merz’s gambit with the AfD, with the ‘Greens reporting a record number of 5,000 membership applications between Wednesday and Sunday.’
