CDU politician Philipp Amthor has firmly rejected any cooperation between his party and the AfD. During a debate conducted by the FAZ with himself and political scientist Christian Stecker, Amthor stated, “Anyone who does not sufficiently distance themselves from right-wing extremism cannot be better treated than the right-wing extremists themselves.” The Member of the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern added, “This is not stigmatization, but an addressing of the truth.”
However, Professor Christian Stecker from TU Darmstadt argues in favor of a minority government that includes the AfD. When challenged by Amthor regarding political similarities between the CDU and the AfD, Stecker asserted that the AfD could continue to generate the fantasy, behind the “firewall,” that the republic would prosper with AfD concepts, and that the party would be a constructive force in government. Amthor countered this by saying, “This fantasy never comes true.” Amthor dismissed this idea entirely, stating, “They present a completely false picture of the AfD. The fairy tale that it is a constructive political force is a false self-narrative of the AfD.”
Amthor also criticized the concept of the “firewall,” suggesting, “The term gives the impression that we are building walls around this fire. It is more sensible to consider how we can put out the fire behind the wall.” Despite this, Amthor insisted that a nuanced examination was necessary in “specific contexts of local politics,” arguing that it is not conducive to the acceptance of democratic institutions to treat every municipal council like the Federal Bundestag. He elaborated that local issues, such as “lighting a street,” should not be over-politicized.
Furthermore, Amthor found it “petty and downright exaggerated” to reflexively state that the SPD or CDU had aligned with the AfD in such or similar cases. He noted that there was currently a “historical expectation that the pendulum is now irresistibly swinging toward right-populism,” citing Hungary as an example where a Christian democrat achieved a major victory. Amthor concluded by advising that they “should not stare at the AfD like the rabbit staring at the snake.”
