The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has escalated its criticism of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), accusing the party’s leadership of increasingly aligning with the far-right spectrum. CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, in comments to Bild am Sonntag, asserted that the AfD is “radicalizing more and more” under the direction of co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, further stating that Weidel herself is “developing into an increasingly likely suspect regarding right-wing extremism.
Linnemann’s rebuke stems directly from Weidel’s recent appearance on the television program “Welt” where she was challenged regarding a statement made by a member of the AfD’s youth organization, “Generation Deutschland”. This individual had publicly lauded the motto of the Hitlerjugend (“Youth must be led by youth”) as an example. Rather than condemning the sentiment, Weidel responded with apparent dismissiveness, claiming she was unaware of the motto’s origin, expressing similar lack of knowledge regarding the slogan “Everything for Germany, Everything for Germany.
This reaction has drawn sharp condemnation from the CDU. Linnemann characterized Weidel’s comments as profoundly problematic, highlighting the initial endorsement of the Hitlerjugend’s motto by a Generation Deutschland board member as deeply concerning in itself. He then accused Weidel of going further, not only failing to adequately address the issue, but also “unacceptably” repeating a prohibited SA slogan multiple times during the televised interview.
The escalating rhetoric reflects a broader concern within German politics regarding the AfD’s trajectory. While the party maintains it is committed to upholding democratic principles, statements like those made by Weidel and the actions of the youth organization are fueling anxieties about the potential normalization of extremist ideologies. The CDU’s public denouncement aims to actively pressure the AfD to distance itself from such associations and to demonstrate a resolute commitment to democratic values, though critics argue such responses have been insufficient to curb the party’s populist and increasingly problematic stances.
