As of: 01/25/2022 7:25 p.m
The CDU temporarily excludes the head of the Value Union, Max Otte, from the party. A party court is to decide on a final exclusion. Otte had previously accepted the AfD’s nomination as a candidate for the Federal President.
The CDU immediately withdraws all membership rights from the head of the arch-conservative Values Union, Max Otte. She thus draws the conclusion from his candidacy for the office of Federal President at the suggestion of the AfD. In addition, proceedings to exclude Otte from the party will be initiated, as General Secretary Paul Ziemiak explained after a meeting of the CDU federal executive board.
According to Ziemiak, the federal executive sees the candidacy as a serious violation of the party’s basic order. He caused serious damage to the CDU.
“Little respect for the office of Federal President”
Otte disregarded the decision of the Union to support the incumbent Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said Ziemiak. “The political games of the AfD and the way in which Dr. Otte allowed himself to be involved shows little respect for the office of Federal President, if not for our democratic and parliamentary order.”
Ziemiak expressly pointed out Otte’s joint appearance with the AfD parliamentary group leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla in the afternoon in the Reichstag building. The CDU clearly against any kind of cooperation with the AfD. According to Ziemiak, Otte violated the loyalty and solidarity obligations of the Union through his actions.
The CDU general secretary justified the preliminary exclusion from the party with the “urgent and serious case of behavior harmful to the party”. As a result, Otte forfeited his party rights until the final decision of the responsible party court. However, he has the opportunity to comment on the matter until January 29th.