A sociologist has expressed concerns that the Union’s intention to toughen its migration policy in the Bundestag may lead to the CDU’s cooperation with the AfD, potentially in the form of voting in favor of AfD-backed proposals. According to Steffen Mau, the sociologist, this would be a departure from previous commitments made by the CDU’s faction leader, Friedrich Merz, who had personally guaranteed that there would be no joint voting with the AfD.
Mau believes that this development would mark a significant shift in the political landscape, as it would pave the way for other forms of cooperation with the AfD. He notes that a similar process has already begun at the local and state levels, citing examples from Austria and the Netherlands, where right-wing extremists have gradually infiltrated the political power centers.
While Merz may not intend for this to happen, some in the CDU’s second and third tiers may see an “opening to the AfD as a strategic option” Mau suggests.
In the aftermath of the Aschaffenburg attack, Mau emphasizes that the public expects the political response to such events to be more than just a superficial reaction. “There are fears and the politics must address them with sound, proportionate and constitutional policies” he stresses. “However, I am very skeptical about whether certain demands can be implemented or if it is ultimately just symbolic actionism. If that’s the case, the public’s disappointment would be predestined.