The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is issuing a stark warning to the center-right Union parties regarding potential collaborations with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), escalating a simmering debate within German politics. SPD parliamentarian Ralf Stegner has cautioned against what he characterizes as a dangerous shift in strategy, arguing that attempting to contain the AfD through joint parliamentary votes risks undermining the foundational principles of German coalition politics.
Stegner, in an interview with the Handelsblatt newspaper, declared that any attempt to dismantle the established “firewall” separating the Union parties from the AfD represents a “reckless gamble” with potentially catastrophic consequences for the stability of future coalitions. He emphasized the imperative of clear ideological separation, asserting that cooperation with those “enemies of democratic principles” is fundamentally unacceptable.
This criticism is echoed within the CDU itself, with Dennis Radtke, head of the CDU’s labor wing, voicing strong opposition to proposals from influential former Union politicians advocating for a more flexible approach toward joint action with the AfD. Radtke contends that such a strategy not only misjudges the political landscape but also jeopardizes the CDU’s long-term viability as a broad-based people’s party. He argues that the perception of unity and stability is crucial to safeguarding the future of German democracy, a point, he notes, the AfD has keenly recognized.
A particularly contentious element in the debate revolves around the suggestion that the AfD might moderate its positions in exchange for closer parliamentary alignment with the Union. Radtke firmly dismisses this notion, stating unequivocally that the AfD cannot genuinely distance itself from its core extremist tenets, as the party’s fundamental ideology remains rooted in right-wing extremism. He further blamed strategic failures, communicative shortcomings and flawed political maneuvering, rather than the strength of the “firewall” for the AfD’s current popularity in opinion polls. The warning signals a deep-seated concern within mainstream parties regarding the normalization of the AfD and the potential erosion of democratic values.