A simmering internal rift within the German conservative political landscape has emerged as CSU lawmakers prepare to unveil proposals from their recent Kloster Seeon retreat, focusing heavily on migration policy. The proposals, reportedly including calls for the expulsion of nearly all Syrian refugees and a “large-scale deportation initiative” are drawing sharp criticism even from within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Dennis Radtke, prominent leader of the CDU’s labor wing and a Member of the European Parliament, voiced his concerns in an interview with “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, acknowledging agreement with 90% of the CSU’s migration stance. However, he questioned the timing of the aggressive proposals, arguing that reviving migration as a central political issue just two months before critical state elections risks handing a significant advantage to the far-right AfD. Radtke emphasized that pressing issues such as affordable housing, economic growth, social reform and Europe’s future remain largely unanswered, overshadowed by the renewed focus on restrictive migration policies.
The intervention highlights a growing tension between the CSU, traditionally known for its tougher stance on immigration and its CDU counterpart. Radtke suggested that current Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, himself a CSU member, has already implemented effective migration policies and that a continuation of his approach would be more strategic than escalating the rhetoric.
The maneuver also underscores the delicate political calculation at play. While the CSU aims to energize its base and potentially siphon support from the AfD, Radtke’s critique signals apprehension that such a strategy might backfire, diverting attention from core economic and social concerns and ultimately reinforcing the AfD’s narrative. The forthcoming weeks will likely be crucial in determining whether the CDU leadership can rein in the CSU’s increasingly assertive approach and reassert a broader, more nuanced political agenda.