The interruption of the recent ARD “Sommerinterview” featuring AfD parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel has drawn criticism from CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann. Speaking to RTL and ntv, Linnemann suggested that actions intended to disrupt such interviews risk inadvertently bolstering the AfD’s visibility.
He emphasized the importance of engaging with the electorate’s concerns rather than attempting to silence opposing viewpoints. Linnemann argued that substantive debate and policy challenges, rather than obstruction, are necessary to effectively counter the AfD’s messaging.
Linnemann accused Weidel of opportunistically capitalizing on negative news and economic downturns. However, he lamented that the disruptive protests overshadowed the interview’s content. He stressed that reasoned arguments, not demonstrations, are the foundation of a functioning democracy.
Addressing the recent SPD motion advocating for a potential party ban, Linnemann cautioned against such measures. He pointed to the significant support the AfD currently commands and asserted that the focus should be on improving policy and addressing the underlying issues driving voter preferences. A party ban, according to Linnemann, is a “not a productive” avenue of action, diverting attention from meaningful engagement with the party’s positions.
He believes the CDU possesses superior arguments and highlighted what he perceived as Weidel’s inability during the interview to effectively articulate positive aspects of Germany’s current trajectory. Linnemann concluded by accusing the AfD of seeking to destabilize the country.