A growing rift within Germany’s governing coalition is emerging as several politicians within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) have floated proposals for a revised approach to the Alternative for Germany (AfD), sparking heated condemnation from within the Social Democratic Party (SPD). The potential for collaboration, however limited, has ignited a fierce debate over the boundaries of political pragmatism and the defense of democratic principles.
SPD officials are vehemently rejecting any form of engagement with the AfD, characterizing the party as a fundamental threat to Germany’s constitutional order. Sebastian Roloff, a member of the SPD’s federal executive committee, explicitly demanded that CDU leader Friedrich Merz unequivocally prohibit any collaboration with the AfD. “It’s a matter of principle that one doesn’t cooperate with a reliably right-wing extremist party that pursues aspirations against our liberal democratic basic order” Roloff stated, warning that any deviation would significantly threaten the stability of the governing coalition.
The SPD’s concerns extend beyond mere political disagreement. Sebastian Fiedler, an SPD interior policy spokesperson, accused the AfD of actively undermining German interests through potentially subversive links. He alleged the party is aligning itself with “foreign powers like Russia, China, or the MAGA movement of Donald Trump” suggesting a campaign against Germany and Europe. In a particularly charged accusation, he labeled the AfD “a party of traitors.
This escalating tension is fueled by fears that the AfD’s continued growth could directly jeopardize the future of German democracy. Fiedler expressed grave anxieties about the upcoming state election in Saxony-Anhalt, warning that it could represent a significant crack in the foundations of the German political system. He emphasized the urgent need for all democratic forces to stand united in defending the nation’s core values.
Former CDU General Secretary Ruprecht Polenz echoed this sentiment, arguing that the AfD has openly declared the CDU its primary adversary. He highlighted the party’s disregard for human dignity and its alignment with Vladimir Putin’s stance against Ukraine. Given the AfD’s designation as a right-wing extremist organization by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, he asserted that any political cooperation is entirely untenable.
Polenz directly criticized the CDU for failing to consistently implement a strategy of clear separation from the AfD. He pointed to instances of municipal cooperation, mirroring of language and shared thematic focuses. He questioned when the CDU would finally begin to systematically and politically challenge the AfD, raising the crucial point of whether the CDU is willing to fully commit to defending democratic values or risk legitimizing a dangerous and destabilizing force within German politics.