Friedrich Merz, the CDU’s candidate for Chancellor, has stated that he will not be swayed by the mass demonstrations against the coalition agreements with the AfD to harden migration policy. “I take it seriously, but as the last remaining people’s party, we won’t let ourselves be steered off course by demonstrators” he told the Funke Media Group (Thursday editions). “The great majority of Germans consider our course of action to be right.”
Neither will Merz be deterred by declining poll numbers – a recent Forsa survey puts the CDU at 28% – stating, “We will remain calm, stay on our themes and fight for every vote. Other institutes see us stable at 30% and above” the CDU chief said.
Merz emphasized, “I rule out any coalition, tolerance, or form of cooperation with the AfD, on a permanent basis.” The Union will not work with a party that wants to leave the NATO, the Euro and the EU. “We have a clear resolution on this and I personally stand by it.”
He described the Union’s reliance on AfD votes in the Bundestag as unlikely, saying, “The current situation in the Bundestag is solely the result of the government no longer having a majority. We as CDU/CSU have our own bill on the table” he said. “The question of accidental majorities will not arise after the election. Then, hopefully, there will be a government majority again.