Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has significantly backtracked on a previous pledge to “halve” the support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a statement widely interpreted as a tactical shift in the CDU’s strategy towards the surging far-right party. During a televised appearance on ARD’s “Arena” program Monday evening, Merz attributed the earlier commitment to a period when the CDU was in opposition, a time, he claimed, when the party made “incorrect decisions, even in refugee policy” and which they are now “in the process of correcting.
The retraction carries considerable political weight. Merz’s declaration to reduce the AfD’s voter base – initially made publicly in 2018 during the search for a new CDU chairman under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s leadership – arrived at a juncture marked by a different political dynamic. Merkel’s long tenure and the governing “Grand Coalition” with the Social Democrats fostered a distinctly different internal debate regarding the appropriate response to the AfD’s rise.
At the time of the original pledge, the AfD polled between 13 and 18 percent. Current estimates place their support between 24 and 27 percent, reflecting a substantial shift in the German political landscape. Merz’s attempt to frame the past statement as a product of opposition tactics raises questions about the CDU’s current approach. Critics suggest that the move signals a softening towards the AfD, potentially legitimizing their positions and hindering efforts to actively counter their divisive rhetoric.
Facing questions from ordinary citizens during the program, Merz acknowledged the likelihood of being pressed on the topic, hinting at an awareness of the controversy inherent in his reinterpretation. The episode has sparked a new round of debate regarding the CDU’s strategy for confronting the far-right and its implications for the broader stability of German politics, with many wondering if this represents a calculated attempt to preemptively navigate a future political reality increasingly shaped by the AfD’s influence.