Greens and the Left have sharply criticized a photo and video clip of AfD top candidate Ulrich Siegmund and CDU parliamentary group leader Guido Heuer.
The photo was taken on Thursday evening at a panel discussion in Halberstadt. It shows the CDU man leaning on the AfD politician's shoulder while both have their hands on the same microphone.
Green Party federal chairman Felix Banaszak told the «Frankfurter Rundschau» that the video casts a disturbing light on the relationship between the CDU and AfD in Saxony-Anhalt. Left Party deputy parliamentary group leader Clara Bünger criticized in the «Spiegel» that these recordings were no accident.
Guido Heuer rejected the impression of familiarity on Saturday. He told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur: «That was more confrontation, no fraternization.» A short video clip released on Sunday shows a humorous exchange between the two politicians.