In a recent interview, Andreas Audretsch, the campaign manager of the German Greens, criticized CDU leader Friedrich Merz for his decision to vote with right-wing extremists in the previous week’s session. Audretsch stated, “Who in the German Bundestag seeks to form majorities with right-wing extremists, perhaps even aiming for it, has not understood the dimension of what is at stake.” He went on to say, “This is a breach of the word of Friedrich Merz and also a breach with the political culture of our country, namely that we do not work together with right-wing extremists in the German Bundestag.”
Audretsch, the deputy faction leader of the Greens, emphasized the importance of not collaborating with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He noted, “There is a third dimension, the question of how much one cooperates with the AfD to close borders in Europe. We need our common Europe. A future chancellor cannot simply take a campaign slogan and put our Europe at risk.” Audretsch called on Merz to clarify that there will be no cooperation with the AfD in the German Bundestag in the future.