The co-leader of the German Green Party, Franziska Brantner, has advocated for a distinction between the AfD party itself and its electorate, urging a nuanced approach to engaging with those who vote for the right-wing populist group While acknowledging the dangers posed by the AfD’s structures and ideology, Brantner argues for maintaining open communication with its voters to address underlying concerns
Speaking to a television broadcaster on Thursday, Brantner emphasized that the AfD represents a threat to Germany’s democratic foundations due to its extremist elements However, she differentiated between the party’s leadership and its supporters, stating that it’s crucial to understand the motivations behind their voting choices She suggested focusing on resolving issues that drive people towards the AfD, such as improving governmental efficiency, providing adequate funding for local municipalities and ensuring effective public services
Brantner reaffirmed the importance of the CDU’s formal resolution prohibiting cooperation with the AfD at parliamentary levels While supporting this stance, she challenged the CDU to clarify its broader strategy for addressing the AfD phenomenon She argued that a secure conservative perspective should recognize the AfD ultimately poses a threat not only to parties like the Greens, but also to the CDU itself and to democratic principles
The Green Party leader also expressed skepticism regarding the current rhetoric employed by CDU leader Friedrich Merz in attempting to regain voters from the AfD She suggested that accusatory language, such as claiming citizens are “lazy” or “not delivering enough” is counterproductive and doesn’t foster a sense of national pride or unity