At Caren Miosga CDU federal chairman Merz welcomed the demonstrations against the AfD. But he refused to call it a “Nazi party”. Instead, he explained that the AfD was deliberately stirring up frustration.
The occasion was set for this Sunday: Over the past few days, hundreds of thousands of people across Germany have taken to the streets to demonstrate against the AfD. The reason was the revelations about conspiratorial meetings of AfD members at which plans were discussed to expel people with a migrant background from Germany.
The CDU federal chairman Friedrich Merz welcomed these protests ARD-talk show Caren Miosga on Sunday evening expressly: “I think this is a very, very encouraging sign of our vibrant democracy.”
He is not a fearful person, but shares the concerns of the demonstrators. However, he was unable to take part because he was on his way to Berlin. However, the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder accompanied a demonstration in Munich.
Encouraging Demonstrations
Regarding the strengthening of the AfD, the CDU chairman explained that this was a challenge for all democratic parties. It is now important that the political center stands together, said Merz: “Frustration is spreading here, and the AfD is also deliberately fomenting it and trying to exploit it politically.” The demonstrations this weekend are therefore encouraging.
However, that’s not enough, says Merz: “If one in ten of those who demonstrate today joins a political party tomorrow – be it the FDP, the SPD, the Greens, the CDU or the CSU – then that’s accurate helped so much.” We need more commitment and members from the democratic parties. “That’s also part of the weakness in our democracy.”
“Of course there are real ones there National Socialists”
However, Merz did not want to adopt the statement made the day before by North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) that the AfD was a Nazi party. “Of course there are real National Socialists there. But that doesn’t mean the AfD voters are all Nazis. If we want to win them back, then we can’t insult them all.” There are some who will not return to the established parties, but efforts must be made to win over those who are still winnable.
When asked about a member of the CDU who had taken part in a conspiratorial meeting with the AfD, Merz said that it was an isolated case. A party expulsion process is underway against the woman. He doesn’t know whether more CDU members were involved. If that were the case, they would have “no place” in the CDU.
Journalist: The majority of AfD voters are not right-wing extremists
The journalist Anne Hähnig from “Zeit” explained to Caren Miosga that the majority of AfD voters are not right-wing extremists at all. Rather, many would simply wish that Germany would be isolated from the rest of the world: “Isolation from migration or isolation from an external war,” said Hähnig.
This “simulation of isolation” represents the AfD. “It won’t solve anything just pointing out that parts of the AfD are right-wing extremist,” said Hähnig. Three quarters of voters voted for this party, even though it was right-wing extremist.
Sociologist Armin Nassehi added: The desire for isolation goes back to a desire for control. Most people are satisfied with their private situation in Germany, but say in surveys that society is not in good shape. The elites are assumed to be incompetent, even though this is not the case.
Common cause with the AfD in Bautzen?
CDU leader Merz made it clear: “I have a completely different position on these questions. This is where we fundamentally differ from the AfD.” He is not in favor of isolation and leaving the EU and NATO.
The CDU chairman defended the fact that Union politicians work with AfD colleagues at the local level. We have to continue even after such election results and can’t just rely on what the AfD is doing: “Then we will become completely dependent on these people.”
Journalist Hähnig reminded Merz of his statement that there would be a party expulsion process for anyone who raised their hand for the AfD. A year later, Union politicians in Bautzen made common cause with the AfD without having to fear any consequences. Merz denied this and pointed out that the SPD and the Greens would not be dealt with so harshly in similar cases.
Don’t commit to working with the left
When asked whether the CDU would govern together with the Left in Thuringia in order to prevent the local AfD parliamentary group leader Björn Höcke from becoming prime minister, Merz explained that that was the decision of the local CDU politicians. “Before that, it’s a decision for the voters.”
He doesn’t want to talk about options based on survey results yet. According to current projections, in Thuringia a government without the participation of the AfD would only be possible with a coalition of the CDU and the Left.
When asked about his controversial statements about “little pashas” and the supposedly free dental treatment for asylum seekers, Merz explained that he is “just committed” and that this comes to the fore in such topics. As an opposition leader, it is also permissible to escalate in order to make a point.
Sociologist Nassehi, however, is critical of Merz’s statements. It is wrong to focus so much on migration. There are some problems in this area, but Germany is also one of the most successful immigration countries.
Georg Schwarte, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, January 22nd, 2024 9:26 a.m