The leader of the CSU parliamentary group, Alexander Hoffmann, has emphatically ruled out any potential collaboration between the conservative Union parties and the Alternative for Germany (AfD). In a statement to the German media network “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” Hoffmann asserted, “The AfD aims to dismantle us; they are the arch-rival of the Union and consequently, the Union is the arch-rival of the AfD.
Addressing the political landscape in Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD recently achieved 39% support in a new poll – significantly ahead of the CDU’s 27% – Hoffmann stated that the survey results should concern all democrats. He acknowledged persistent suggestions that the Union might consider cooperating with the AfD but countered that the Union and particularly the CSU, represents the AfD’s biggest adversary.
Hoffmann highlighted the Union’s successful migration policies, which he attributed to a marked decrease in refugee numbers – a development he described as the worst possible outcome from the AfD’s perspective. Despite the recent surge in AfD support despite a stricter approach to migration policy, Hoffmann expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the ongoing policy shift, though he cautioned that significant challenges remain and require time to resolve.