The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has cautiously welcomed the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz’s rejection of potential collaboration with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), while simultaneously voicing concerns about internal divisions within the CDU regarding its stance on the AfD.
SPD deputy leader and Rhineland-Palatinate’s Minister President, Alexander Schweitzer, lauded Merz’s declaration as crucial for maintaining a stable, broad-based coalition government. However, he expressed reservations about the CDU’s apparent difficulty in achieving consistent messaging on the issue. “While the rejection of cooperation is a positive step, a genuine break requires a unified voice within the Union” Schweitzer stated, suggesting a lack of consensus persists regarding clear boundaries with a party he characterized as “partially assuredly right-wing extremist.
Schweitzer drew a distinction between the AfD and its voters, emphasizing the need to avoid broad condemnations of individuals who currently support the party. “We condemn the policies of the AfD – its nationalist tendencies, manipulative tactics and undermining of the state – but we don’t condemn the people who identify with it” he clarified. He argued that those who vote for the AfD aren’t necessarily lost to the democratic process and stressed the importance of actively engaging with them to reintegrate them into the mainstream political spectrum.
The SPD’s stance underscores a complex political strategy: acknowledging the anxieties and concerns driving support for the AfD while firmly rejecting its political agenda. It raises questions regarding the CDU’s ability to effectively manage internal dissent and adequately distance itself from the AfD, alongside highlighting the persistent challenge of appealing to voters drawn to the party’s platform. The SPD’s approach also reveals a calculated effort to retain voter contact rather than pursuing a solely adversarial route.