Statements by CDU leader Friedrich Merz on how to deal with the AfD at the municipal level have met with a lot of criticism in his own party. Critics see this as a softening of the CDU line not to work with the AfD. An overview of the central decisions of the party on the subject:
Resolution of the Hamburg CDU federal party conference from December 7th to 8th, 2018:
“Germany’s CDU rejects coalitions and similar forms of cooperation with both the Left Party and the Alternative for Germany.”
Strict demarcation against hate and agitation
Resolution of the Presidium and Federal Executive of the CDU of June 24, 2019 after the assassination of the Kassel District President Walter Lübcke:
“Anyone who supports the AfD must know that they are also deliberately accepting right-wing extremist hatred and hate speech, extreme polarization and personal defamation. And we know how personal defamation can ultimately lead to death threats, acts of violence and even murder. Anyone in the CDU who advocates rapprochement or even cooperation with the AfD must know that they are approaching a party that has right-wing extremist ideas, anti-Semitism and racism in its ranks He must know that he is approaching a party that supports an ideological environment from which Walter Lübcke’s alleged perpetrator came.
Therefore, in memory of our murdered party friend, we reaffirm the resolution of the Hamburg party conference: The CDU rejects any coalition or similar forms of cooperation with the AfD. The CDU will use all available options to enforce this decision.”
Decision of the CDU Presidium of February 7, 2020 after the election of the FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich as Thuringian Prime Minister with votes from the AfD and CDU:
“For Germany’s CDU, there is no cooperation with the AfD – neither directly nor indirectly.”
