A growing internal debate within Germany’s conservative bloc is escalating, with prominent former politicians advocating for a dismantling of the established firewall against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and exploring avenues for collaboration. This shift has triggered a sharp rebuke from within the Social Democratic Party (SPD), raising concerns about the stability of German democracy and the potential for normalizing extremist ideologies.
Hakan Demir, the SPD’s deputy parliamentary spokesperson for domestic policy, warned in an interview with “Tagesspiegel” that any softening of the stance against the AfD carries significant risk. “History demonstrates that when the conservatives falter, the nation falters” he stated, emphasizing the dangers of normalizing a party he characterized as harboring increasingly dangerous influences. He argued that dismantling the “firewall” against the AfD essentially constitutes its normalization, a process he believes would undermine the integrity of the German political landscape.
Instead of pursuing cooperative ventures with the AfD, Demir urged the conservative CDU/CSU to reassess its approach to the Left Party (Die Linke). He suggested that a recalibration of relations with Die Linke would be a more constructive path, asserting that the conservatives’ current reluctance to engage has, ironically, rendered them reliant on the Left Party’s support for key parliamentary decisions. He specifically cited instances where Die Linke’s votes were crucial for electing a parliamentary speaker and constitutional judges.
Demir’s critique extended to questioning the AfD’s own agenda. He highlighted concerns regarding reported ties between elements within the party and Russia and China, as well as the party’s promotion of exclusionary nationalist rhetoric and a restrictive immigration policy predicated on mass deportation.
The push for a revised strategy toward the AfD originated from within the conservative camp itself. Former CDU General Secretary Peter Tauber and former chair of the CDU’s Basic Values Commission, Andreas Rödder, recently argued in “Stern” magazine that a more pragmatic approach is necessary, challenging the traditional stance of complete isolation. However, Demir’s response underscores the deep divisions emerging within the German political establishment, prompting a crucial debate regarding the boundaries of political pragmatism and the protection of democratic principles.