The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is escalating its criticism of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), accusing the party of increasingly embracing extremist ideologies under the leadership of co-chairs Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, in a statement to “Bild am Sonntag”, leveled particularly strong accusations against Weidel, suggesting she is “increasingly becoming a person of suspicion regarding right-wing extremism.
Linnemann’s critique stems from Weidel’s recent televised appearance on “Welt”, during which she was confronted about a statement made by a member of the AfD’s newly formed youth wing, “Generation Deutschland”. This member lauded the motto of the Hitlerjugend – “Youth must be led by youth” – as an example. Weidel’s dismissive response, stating she was unaware of the origin of the phrase and questioning the controversy surrounding the slogan “Alles für Deutschland, Alles für Deutschland” has drawn intense condemnation.
The CDU’s Linnemann characterized Weidel’s reaction as deeply troubling, emphasizing the gravity of a Generation Deutschland board member praising the Hitlerjugend’s motto. He went further, accusing Weidel of not only failing to adequately distance the party from the initial statement but actively echoing what he described as a “forbidden SA slogan” multiple times during the interview. This, he argued, demonstrates a disturbing lack of sensitivity and potentially complicity in normalizing extremist rhetoric.
The escalating feud between the CDU and AfD highlights a growing concern within the German political establishment regarding the right-wing party’s normalization of extremist narratives. Analysts suggest the CDU’s increasingly assertive language reflects a strategic attempt to draw a clear distinction between mainstream conservative values and the AfD’s growing association with far-right ideologies, particularly as the party’s influence continues to expand within the political landscape. The incident has triggered a renewed debate about responsibility and accountability within the AfD and the potential for its narratives to resonate with a broader segment of the population.