Beatrix von Storch, the AfD faction’s vice, has praised the approach of Merz, allowing majorities, even with the AfD, to pass. “The CDU has now realized that perhaps this is the right way” she said in an interview with the Politico’s “Berlin Playbook” podcast on Wednesday. “We will demonstrate that there are majorities in this country for sensible politics and that can only be achieved with the votes of the AfD and only with the votes of the AfD.”
According to von Storch, “sensible politics” can be achieved in this Bundestag if the CDU allows it. “This is an important step forward” she said. The AfD faction’s vice emphasized that only with the AfD can the demands from the Union’s motion be implemented. “In the end, it must be implemented and the AfD will be the guarantor for that” she explained.
Ahead of the votes on suspending family reunification, rejecting asylum seekers at Germany’s borders and granting the federal police the authority to file charges, the FDP and AfD have signaled their approval. The SPD and Greens, on the other hand, reject the proposals, arguing that they contravene the Basic Law and European law. The BSW will support parts of the Union’s proposals, which could make the AfD influential in the Bundestag for the first time.
In his response to the government’s declaration after the November’s coalition crisis, the CDU’s faction leader Friedrich Merz had stated that he would prevent a situation in which “even a single, coincidental, or artificially created majority comes together with those on the right.” According to Merz, “these ladies and gentlemen from the right would like it if they suddenly gained majorities.