German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has expressed concern over the opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s (CDU) recent statements, which Scholz believes may blur the lines between the CDU and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
In an interview with the Handelsblatt, Scholz stated, “I have taken everything the opposition leader has said about a ‘wall’ at face value and that he will not work with the AfD. But after his latest announcement, I am really worried.”
Merz had previously hinted at the possibility of supporting AfD-backed motions in the Bundestag, saying, “We will submit proposals next week that are in line with our convictions and we will do so, regardless of who supports them.”
The SPD has classified Merz’s proposals as legally impossible or difficult and has accused the CDU of a diversionary tactic. The CDU, on the other hand, argues that Chancellor Scholz himself had previously stated that consequences must follow the recent attack in Aschaffenburg. Merz added, “Whoever wants to support these proposals should do so. I don’t look left or right, I look straight ahead.”
SPD Bundestag member Ralf Stegner also criticized Merz’s stance, saying, “If Merz now says that all votes are welcome, I can only say that this has turned the ‘wall’ against the right-wing extreme into a tent.”Merz is acting as if he has already won the election and can set conditions and ultimatums, Stegner claimed. “This doesn’t work. We should work together and not misuse this for a competition, from which the right-wing extremist parties would profit if we act so irresponsibly, as Friedrich Merz is doing now.”
Stegner also accused Merz of using the security laws for electioneering purposes, saying, “One does nothing good for the relatives if one uses this so cheaply to make a last-minute push for votes, because one hopes to pick up a few more votes on the way.”
The security laws of the coalition government have been pending in the Bundesrat for weeks, Stegner said and are being blocked by the CDU and CSU. Stegner renewed the offer to the CDU and CSU to support the security laws, saying, “The Union can participate in the security laws that are already on the table and then we can discuss everything else. But now, just quickly putting something on the Bundestag’s table that won’t pass and is actually an invitation to the right-wing extreme, that will not pass with a democratic majority.