The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) faces a critical juncture, with prominent political scientist Constantin Wurthmann issuing a stark warning against abandoning the established distance from the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” Wurthmann cautioned that the CDU’s ability to maintain this “firewall” – a commitment to clearly distinguishing the party’s values and policies from those of the AfD – is paramount to its continued electoral viability. He pointed to numerous national and international studies demonstrating that when mainstream parties have relinquished such boundaries, they have suffered significant electoral decline.
Wurthmann challenged the prevalent narrative within the CDU suggesting a potential to reclaim substantial portions of the AfD’s voter base. He asserted that many AfD supporters had never previously aligned with the CDU, questioning the strategic value of attempting to court them through policy compromises. Furthermore, he refuted the argument that the firewall itself has driven the AfD towards further radicalization. Instead, he argued that the CDU’s own adoption of previously AfD-defined positions and rhetorical strategies over the past decade has inadvertently fueled the AfD’s need to continuously differentiate itself and escalate its message. “Parties want to survive – the AfD naturally too. Consequently, it has further radicalized itself to remain distinct when these course corrections were set” Wurthmann elaborated. He underscored that while a clear separation of ideologies “can” be a successful strategy, it has, as of yet, never been consistently and effectively implemented.
The warning comes amidst ongoing debate within the CDU concerning its future relationship with the AfD, a topic set for urgent discussion at a leadership retreat this Sunday. Green Party parliamentary group deputy leader Konstantin von Notz lauded the recent declarations by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and, crucially, earlier statements from the CSU in maintaining a firm distance. He expressed disbelief that the CDU would seriously contemplate altering its current position, warning of the potential to “destroy Germany’s republican success story, contribute to its own demise and finally damage the CDU’s core identity”. Von Notz deemed it a “complete mystery” how some within the CDU could even consider increased collaboration with the AfD.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz recently reiterated his definitive rejection of any such alliance, explicitly linking that stance to his position as party leader. He emphatically stated that the CDU would not cooperate with any party that fundamentally challenges the pillars of German society. The Sunday leadership retreat is expected to provide a crucial platform to define the CDU’s strategic path forward and solidify its public positioning regarding the increasingly influential AfD.
