Berlin’s current Mayor, Kai Wegner, suggests that the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) should adopt a different approach to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) than in the past. Speaking to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Wegner noted that past efforts to handle the AfD “have not brought the success everyone hoped for” and stressed that “it is not smart to continue as things are”. The CDU politician urged that “everyone jointly consider what we can do so as not to strengthen the feeling of exclusion among AfD voters”.
Currently, the Berlin CDU has maintained a strict policy of exclusion regarding the AfD within the House of Representatives: the AfD is not represented on the parliamentary presidium, and its candidates for the committee investigating the funding scandal were not elected. Wegner continues to reject any form of substantive cooperation or coalition with the AfD. As a counterpoint to the AfD, he proposed measures such as suspending the CO2 tax, arguing that energy and fuel “must become affordable in Germany again”.
Looking ahead to the upcoming House elections, Wegner plans to position the CDU by advocating for new assembly laws, calling this a unique selling point for the party. He stated to the FAZ that if violence threatens public assemblies, “it must become easier for the assembly authorities to prohibit demonstrations”.