Friedrich Merz meets with his closest CDU leadership circle in Berlin on Sunday to find ways to diminish the AfD. The far-right party has closed in on the Union in nationwide polls and approaches 40 percent in eastern states. While Merz upholds the firewall, some Union politicians demand a more normal approach to the AfD.
The AfD is stronger than ever. In polls, it has closed in on the Union nationwide, approaching 40 percent in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where elections are due next year. Previous strategies like ignoring, excluding, copying, or confronting the party have failed; on the contrary, it continues to grow.
Friedrich Merz, Chancellor and CDU leader, has called a strategy session with his closest leadership circle at the Berlin CDU headquarters on Sunday. The pressure is immense, and uncertainty is high. Merz refuses to tear down the firewall: no coalitions, no cooperation in state parliaments or the Bundestag. Instead, he aims for greater presence in the East, sharper warnings about the consequences of an AfD government, and stronger substantive debates. He hopes declining refugee numbers and billions in investments for infrastructure like schools and swimming pools will help.
However, internal voices are challenging the firewall. Former CDU General Secretary Peter Tauber and ex-Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg demand a more normal approach to the AfD. Support comes from party members in Saxony, Brandenburg, and Thuringia. Andreas Bühl, CDU faction leader in the Thuringian state parliament, stated: "For 'correctly found' laws, there is no reason to revise if they also find 'support from the political fringes.'" In February, Merz had ruled out any cooperation and received cheers at the party congress. What has changed? The debate will continue, and Merz's approach seems helpless.
Background: "The fascists of today want to win elections. At the same time, they enjoy cruelty and violence."