The leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Friedrich Merz, has reaffirmed the party’s distance from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) following recent controversy over voting in the German Bundestag. Merz stated that the AfD is opposed to everything the CDU has built in Germany over the past decades.
“We will not work together, we will not tolerate, we will not form a minority government – nothing” Merz emphasized, reiterating that the CDU will not collaborate with the AfD before, during, or after the election. He expressed the goal of making the AfD a marginal force.
In his speech, Merz also highlighted the importance of preserving freedom in the face of external and internal security threats. He referred to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as an attack on freedom, Europe and the political order, as well as the values of the Enlightenment and the open, free and liberal society.
Merz criticized the government’s economic policies, accusing it of excessive state indebtedness and a “missionary zeal for micro-regulation of entire industries and companies.” He ruled out the reintroduction of a wealth tax and announced that a CDU-led government would increase its presence in Brussels.
The party conference in Berlin primarily served as a launchpad for the final phase of the Bundestag election campaign. The CDU had already approved its “Immediate Program” earlier in the day, which would be implemented immediately if the party wins the election.