Juso-Chef Philipp Türmer has accused Jens Spahn of wanting to bring the CDU closer to a cooperation with the AfD. “My impression is that Jens Spahn has a long-term agenda to open up the CDU for a cooperation with the AfD” said Türmer in the “Spitzengespräch” video format of the “Spiegel” on Wednesday. “That’s how it looks when you keep testing such things and then row back behind what you actually said.”
Türmer criticized Spahn’s behavior in particular in light of the agreement in the Union and SPD coalition agreement to not cooperate with the AfD. “There was a very clear line found in the coalition agreement – shortly after, Spahn tested the exact opposite in public” said the Juso chief. It was not the first time that Spahn had stood out in such contexts. “Also at previous votes in the Bundestag, where CDU and AfD voted together, Spahn was there.”
Türmer was also perplexed by Spahn’s international orientation. “One can see the closeness he keeps showing to the Trump administration, where he was at the party congress” said the Juso leader. “That makes a very unpleasant impression on me.