German Conservatives Call for Distance from AfD
German conservatives are urging their party to create more distance from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Members of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU) have called on the party to increase its ratings and clearly distinguish itself from the AfD.
Formation of "Compass Middle" Group
Around 30 CDU members have formed a new intra-party group called "Compass Middle" (Compass Center). This group aims to emphasize the party’s social values to win back the support of centrist and left-leaning voters. They believe that trying to appease voters tempted by the populist AfD is not the right approach.
Need for Course Correction
The CDU members are concerned about the party’s current performance, citing the 28.6 percent result in the last federal election as unsatisfactory. They believe a course correction is necessary to reach the 40 percent mark expected of a major party. This involves making the CDU’s social and liberal values more visible to attract more people.
Concerns about Party Direction
Former CDU general secretary Ruprecht Polenz, one of the initiators of the new grouping, expressed concerns that the party under Merz is focusing too much on narrow values on the right side. This, he believes, is disillusioning voters in other parts of the political spectrum. Polenz warned that the CDU risks losing its values if it only sees itself as a purely conservative party.
Distancing from AfD
For Polenz and "Kompass Mitte", distancing themselves from the far-right AfD is crucial. They would like to see the AfD banned and emphasize that there must be absolutely no political cooperation between the CDU and the right-wing extremist AfD. This stance is based on the historical knowledge that fascists only came to power with the help of conservatives.
Different Approaches within CDU
However, not all elements within the CDU agree on the approach to the AfD. Some CDU MPs in the eastern state of Saxony, where the AfD has significant support, called for a more "pragmatic" approach. They suggested not being afraid to rely on AfD support in parliament to maintain a "firewall" against the far right.
Pragmatic Approach
Sven Eppinger, a CDU state parliament member in Saxony, argued that just because the AfD lawmakers think something is right, it doesn’t make it wrong. He emphasized the importance of doing what is right, even if it means cooperating with the AfD on certain issues. This approach is seen as a way to achieve common goals without compromising the party’s values.
