Following the success of the AfD in Thuringia and Saxony, Tübingen’s mayor Boris Palmer (independent) has said that the CDU should consider talking to the AfD.
After the state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, there is much discussion about what role the AfD will play. Despite the party’s success, all potential coalition partners have ruled out cooperation. Tübingen Mayor Boris Palmer (independent) emphasized in the program “Zur Sache Baden-Württemberg” on SWRthat the CDU should at least openly discuss whether to enter into talks with the AfD.
Already after the election, Tübingen mayor Palmer had written in a post on his Facebook page asking whether it would not be wiser for the CDU to offer talks to the AfD instead of thinking about a government with the alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and the Left.
Palmer: Firewall strategy has failed
The AfD won the election in Thuringia. In the state elections in Saxony, the CDU was just ahead of the AfD. Since all parties are currently ruling out working with the AfD, there is currently talk of a firewall against the party.
Palmer stressed on SWR that he considers the firewall strategy to be a complete failure and a mistake. The more the AfD is insulted and described as right-wing extremists, the stronger it becomes. “And if they are right-wing extremists who are enemies of the constitution, then they must be banned. That is very simple, our constitution provides for that,” Palmer continued. If they are not right-wing extremists, however, then we must remain in democratic competition and not give them the right by treating them badly.
“CDU does not want to work with the AfD”
The deputy federal chairman of the CDU, Andreas Jung from the Konstanz constituency, responded: “The firewall remains, there is no getting around it. What we said before the election still applies.” The CDU does not want to work with the AfD, said Jung. The CDU stands for unity and the AfD is pouring oil on the fire.
AfD in Baden-Württemberg sees voters’ will not fulfilled
The co-chairman of the AfD in Baden-Württemberg, Markus Frohnmaier, believes that this does not reflect the will of the voters. The AfD has been given the task of sounding out the situation, Frohnmaier told SWR. And Frohnmaier stressed: “I believe that all voters who have now voted for the Union in the East can see that in the end they will have an option that will result in left-wing politics and green politics.” Although voters would actually have wanted a center-right politics with conservative parties, said Frohnmaier.
Broadcast on Thu, 5.9.2024 20:15, Zur Sache Baden-Württemberg, SWR BW
More on the election in Saxony and Thuringia
