Daniel Peters, the CDU’s leading candidate for the state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, is urging Minister-President Manuela Schwesig (SPD) to change her campaign strategy. This call for a pivot comes in reaction to the recent election results in Saxony-Anhalt. Speaking to the “Welt,” Peters stated that a crucial realization is that the “increasing polarization”-a process he argues is being driven heavily by Schwesig in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern-ultimately only benefits the AfD. He insists that instead of constantly focusing on federal politics or discussing how to prevent the AfD, politicians must return to addressing the specific issues that genuinely affect ordinary people in the state.
Peters identified the Union’s poor performance in Saxony-Anhalt as stemming from widespread dissatisfaction with politics overall and the perception the federal government currently projects. Furthermore, he noted that many citizens, particularly in East Germany and rural areas, feel overlooked. “In recent years, we have often focused too much on metropolitan centers and neglected the actual living conditions of people in rural areas,” he remarked. “We have let many people down. This breeds frustration and opens the door for the AfD.”
Separately, the CDU politician reaffirmed his firm refusal to collaborate with the AfD. Peters stressed that the party holds positions fundamentally incompatible with the core beliefs of the CDU. He specifically cited the AfD’s pro-Russian stance, its desire to exit the European Union, and its challenge to the basic tenets of the Union across foreign policy. Consequently, he made it clear that a partnership with this party is inconceivable for him.
