In response to potential outcomes in Saxony-Anhalt, former Federal President Joachim Gauck indicated support for a coalition between the CDU and the Linke party. He suggested that if the AfD emerges as the strongest force in the September state election, and a democratic majority cannot be formed without the Linke, then the CDU would have to abandon its current incompatibility stance and collaborate with the Linke. Gauck told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” (Friday edition) that, “we will need a grand coalition of all opponents of the AfD, and that naturally includes the Linke”. He added that the CDU “will have to swallow this frog in an emergency. It does not need to make a love declaration”.
This stance is notable given that Gauck, who was previously critical of the Linke as an SED successor party during his time as the Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Records, has since criticized the declining trust in democratic institutions, which he attributes directly to the perceived inaction of the political center. Gauck noted that three-quarters of Germans are dissatisfied with the performance of those currently in power.
He stressed that politics has a duty to identify clear problems and propose actionable remedies. To successfully win back voters who have defected to the AfD, leaders must provide more convincing results. He argued that the governing coalition requires less public disputes and more boldness regarding necessary reforms, pointing out that such reforms would create numerous avenues for dialogue with those who can be brought back by better politics.
Despite this pragmatic call for inter-party cooperation, Gauck strongly emphasized that the AfD must still be decisively fought due to its recent radicalism. Regarding the party’s stance on Putin’s war, he called it “intolerable” stating that as long as the party pursues a path of disruption, it remains an “absolute opponent”.
Furthermore, Gauck suggested that no coalition with the right-wing party should be formed at the state level. He argued that even locally, such cooperation might not be problematic. For instance, if a mayor is making local decisions regarding kindergartens or bypass roads, Gauck finds it not necessarily problematic if the AfD agrees to participate.
In conclusion, Gauck envisions not a “burning wall” but a “fortified border” separating conservatives from the AfD. He stated that this boundary must be clear, but he acknowledged that commerce and communication must cross it, and thus, they must be willing to talk to those citizens who are still receptive to factual arguments.
