CDU leader Friedrich Merz has called on his party to defend democracy and freedom in Germany. He particularly attacked the AfD at a party conference in Mainz on Tuesday evening. “This is not the alternative for Germany. This is relegation for Germany,” said Merz at the first of six regional events in which the CDU leadership discussed the draft of the new basic program with the grassroots. This is to be decided at a federal party conference at the beginning of May.
The CDU chairman emphasized that Germany will have to do more for its freedom – “emotionally, politically, but also materially; internally and externally.” You won’t be able to fight for the country’s freedom if you don’t maintain it internally. This includes a high level of tolerance for other opinions.
He therefore advocates dealing fairly and decently with party political opponents, but very clearly highlighting the differences, said Merz. There are clear boundaries when dealing with each other. “The limit has been reached where extremist parties from the left and especially now from the right are threatening precisely this coexistence in our country because they want a completely different republic than the one we have created over the last 75 years.”
Merz also discussed the arrest of the former RAF terrorist Daniela Klette. He warned that what began with demonstrations on the left, then turned into violence against things, ultimately led to brutal violence with murder and manslaughter against the representatives of Germany. “And that’s why we say: No matter whether it comes from the far left or the far right – something like this must never happen again in Germany.”
