Michel Friedman, who left the CDU more than a week ago after over 40 years of membership, does not rule out a return to the party. “What happened last week may have been an accident and not intended, it may have been due to carelessness or in the heat of the moment or out of an emotion. But the motive does not interest me” he told the “Tagesspiegel” (Wednesday edition).
“It was a terribly bad show with the headline ‘Death by Suicide’. On Wednesday, there was a motion by a democratic party, which was dependent on the votes of the anti-democratic party of hate. And on Friday, the CDU missed its goal and made the AfD an additional propaganda door, namely: ‘See, you can’t rely on these people. You have to make us stronger so that we can implement this policy.’ It was a week of speed-up for the AfD.”
According to Friedman, several party friends initially tried to persuade him to stay. However, there are also people in the party, in the leadership as well as at the base, who are happy about his departure, he told the “Tagesspiegel”. He has received emails in the past few days from people who, in essence, said: “Finally, you’re gone. Why did it take so long?”
Friedman himself said that he represents not the conservative wing of Roland Koch, Friedrich Merz and others. His departure is also a sign, especially for the younger ones: “That there are red lines for every human being and if your own red line is crossed, then be no opportunist.”
Regarding the question of whether his departure led to a break in friendships, Friedman explained: “I have a few people in all democratic parties who are close to me. Those who I call my friends in the CDU are not my friends because we belong to the same party, but because I value their humanity and hopefully they value mine. And I am convinced that my departure doesn’t change anything about these friendships – except that we now discuss it.”
Regarding the question of how fair the public is treating Friedrich Merz just now, Friedman said: “It is necessary that in times of this taboo-breaking the criticism is extremely sharp. But Merz is a democrat, despite everything. I find personal defamations as a great embarrassment and lack of respect, not only in the political business. Arguments, yes, insults, no.”
Regarding the question of a possible return to the CDU, Friedman said: “Why not? Every decision, to be in a party or not, has to do with the people involved and the program. Parties are as dynamic as life is. The CDU and its change from Merkel to Merz is a great example of this.