CDU Member of the Bundestag Serap Güler posits that CDU members likely cast votes for AfD politician Tobias Rausch when he was elected Speaker of the State Parliament (Landtagspräsident) in Saxony-Anhalt. Güler told the broadcasters RTL and ntv that even if only five of the fourteen participants initially decided to abstain, she believes “some CDU member supported that decision.” Although she stresses that the election itself was democratic and must be accepted, she expressed personal distress as a CDU member that some colleagues seemingly voted for the president despite agreements to remain neutral.
Güler made clear that actively supporting the AfD contradicts her Christian democratic values. She stated, “The CDU can say: We respect the result and we can abstain. But an active vote for an AfD minister-president-which is what this is for me-is incompatible with the understanding of Christian democratic values, as I hold them.” She further indicated that this concern is relevant for the upcoming selection of the Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt, suggesting that some members may vote for the AfD.
Previously, CDU Chairman and Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz cautioned against drawing premature conclusions regarding the four extra votes for the AfD candidate-votes that extend beyond those cast by the AfD and BSW. Merz, during an event hosted by Handelsblatt and Wirtschaftswoche, had warned of “premature conclusions” and the possibility of a “false-flag operation” by other parties. In 2021, he had told Spiegel that if “anyone of ours raises their hand to cooperate with the AfD, then a party expulsion process would begin the next day.”
