CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann has criticized the SPD in the migration debate, accusing it of engaging in “electoral calculus” rather than a genuine discussion.
Speaking at the CDU’s federal party convention in Berlin on Monday, Linnemann lamented the missed opportunity for a compromise in the middle of the parliament during the debate on the asylum cap law on Friday. “But the SPD’s approach was never about the issue” he said. “It was about election campaigning, about electoral calculus.”
Linnemann pointed out that the three key points of discussion had already been addressed in the party’s election program, were part of the minister-presidents’ consensus, or had been previously agreed upon with the SPD and CDU. “In other words, it was not about the issue and we cannot participate in that” he emphasized.
Regarding the protests against the Union over the weekend, Linnemann expressed support for peaceful demonstrations, but condemned the violence and vandalism that had occurred. He also mentioned that a parliamentary employee had received a death threat. “Violence is not an instrument of democracy” the CDU general secretary stated, adding that he would welcome the SPD distancing itself from such actions.
The party convention in the capital city is primarily aimed at launching the final phase of the federal election campaign. The party’s leader and chancellor candidate, Friedrich Merz, is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech in the afternoon and the union is expected to adopt its “immediate program” – a set of measures to be implemented in the event of a victory in the federal election.