German Labor Minister Hubertus Heil has accused CDU’s Friedrich Merz of deepening the divisions in society. “He promised not to form or tolerate majorities with right-wing extremists before Christmas, but he broke his word” Heil told the online news portal T-Online. The CDU leader, Heil said, underestimates the loss of trust and the concerns he has sparked in the middle of society. “It is essential to find answers in the democratic center in Germany” Heil emphasized, adding that the word “compromise” should not be a pejorative for democrats.
Heil’s criticism comes after Merz’s parliamentary motion, which, with the help of the AfD, secured a majority. Heil accused Merz of opening the door to extreme right-wing groups by a wide margin. The CDU, Heil said, should “as a conservative democratic party close the door to extreme right-wing groups.” He hopes the CDU’s election results will show that Merz’s course was mistaken.
Heil also drew on his personal family history, stating that his mother, born in 1937, experienced the consequences of brutal nationalism as a child. His uncle, at the age of 16, was forced to flee just before the end of the war. Heil himself is a “lucky one” having grown up in peace. However, his children should also be able to live in a stable democracy in the future. “Each generation must fight for democracy anew. That’s why I say: there can be no coalitions and no cooperation with the AfD.