In a strongly worded statement, SPD Chairman Lars Klingbeil accused CDU’s Friedrich Merz of reneging on his promise not to collaborate with the far-right AfD in the German parliament. Klingbeil, in an interview with the Spiegel, expressed his concern that Merz is on the verge of making a historic mistake by seeking support from the AfD in the Bundestag.
Merz, the CDU’s candidate for Chancellor, had previously stated that he would never collaborate with the AfD, led by Alice Weidel and Björn Höcke. However, Klingbeil pointed out that Merz is now considering submitting a motion that would require the support of the AfD to pass in the parliament.
Klingbeil warned that such a move would be a breach of the political tradition of the last two CDU Chancellors, Helmut Kohl and Angela Merkel, who had always strived to maintain a centrist position. He urged Merz to reconsider and to prioritize the values of responsibility and the middle ground in German politics, rather than embarking on a rightward shift.