Former Hessian Minister-President Roland Koch (CDU) strongly warns his party colleagues in Sachsen-Anhalt against cooperating with the AfD. Koch stated that the AfD pursues an isolationist, nationalistic, and decidedly German-populist political program that has absolutely no overlap with the CDU. He further argued that those who talk about red lines are mistaken, noting that the AfD representatives lack the minimum adherence to the constitution required for any dialogue.
Koch continued that if the state association of Sachsen-Anhalt decided at a party conference to enter into cooperation with the AfD, it would be a “life-threatening attack on the existence of the Union.” He suggested that in that scenario, Wladimir Putin would have won. Looking toward the planned minister-president election in December, Koch advised careful consideration regarding the hands they entrust their governance to. He finds the requirement for deputies to sign sworn declarations undesirable but maintains that the entire faction staying away is legitimate. Both these measures are being considered by the Sachsen-Anhalter CDU faction chairman and Minister-President Sven Schulze.
Schulze had previously explained that the CDU would decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether to accept AfD motions. Koch criticizes this stance, asserting that the people have a right to a reliable line from the CDU and that there is no reason for any substantive compromises. Koch, a confidant of Merz, distances himself clearly from the statements of the current Hessian Minister-President Boris Rein, who recently called for a revised approach to the AfD in several articles.
