Dennis Radtke, the federal chairman of the Christian Democratic Workers’ Association (CDA), has cautioned against a misfocused debate in the upcoming local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Speaking to the “Handelsblatt”, the CDU politician stated that issues of asylum and migration represent core territory for the Alternative for Germany (AfD). He argued that concentrating solely on these topics would be a losing strategy, emphasizing the need for solutions without incessant discussion of the matter.
Radtke also expressed concern that the AfD is capitalizing on shortcomings in social policy. He identified the cost of living, particularly access to affordable housing, as a central social issue impacting a broad swathe of the population, extending well into the middle class. He characterized the increasing struggle for many to make ends meet despite hard work as a significant driver for AfD support.
He further highlighted perceptions of systemic dysfunction, citing cumbersome bureaucracy, shortages in care and childcare provision, deteriorating infrastructure and neglected public spaces as contributing to a sense that critical systems are failing. The local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia are scheduled to take place on September 14th.
