Helmut Frister, Chairman of the Ethics Council, argues that Parliament should not shy away from including AfD members in votes concerning bio- and medical ethical applications in the Bundestag. Speaking to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, Frister noted that it is possible for a majority to be secured through AfD votes if the traditional party discipline is suspended during a specific vote. He stressed that this scenario should not prevent the Bundestag from proceeding with such a vote, otherwise, it risks losing the opportunity to deliberate on medical ethical issues without being bound by party lines.
While Frister generally supports maintaining separation from the AfD, he maintains that the “firewall” against the party is only applicable when votes are conducted under existing party discipline. He believes this rule should not apply in situations where participants are simply driven by their personal conscience.
Martin Sichert, the health policy spokesperson for the AfD faction, told the newspaper that his faction holds differing views on the upcoming vote regarding non-invasive prenatal tests, but is united in its categorical rejection of the opt-out system for organ donation. When asked about bio- and medical ethical questions, Sichert asserted that every MP is committed to their own conscience, claiming that there is no party discipline within the AfD.
However, MPs from the CDU/CSU, SPD, and Greens announced they will not actively seek collaboration with AfD members on ethical matters. Stephan Pilsinger, a CSU politician, is part of a group preparing a motion to “Maintain Volunteering” for organ donation. Regarding the AfD, he stated: “We aren’t talking to them, and we aren’t doing anything with them.” Nevertheless, he conceded that since the party holds 24 percent of the seats, it could ultimately be decisive in such issues, and he assumes AfD MPs view these votes as matters of conscience.
Sabine Dittmar (SPD), who advocates for the opt-out solution where donation is assumed after brain death, explained that there is no prospect of AfD approval on the topic, noting that they sought no input from the faction. She said her group had invited AfD MPs and staff to an informational event, but did not anticipate their agreement. Dittmar explained, “In democratic factions, we require an approval rate of around 70 percent, and that is what we orient ourselves by.”
Corinna Rüffer (Greens) supports reviewing the approval of non-invasive prenatal tests used to screen for trisomies in the unborn. She stated, “Nobody aims for a majority with the AfD on such issues, given that its leading figures express anti-disability sentiments.” While anticipating a broad consensus for her motion, she realized that the large number of AfD mandates does complicate the formation of a majority. Rüffer commented, “It certainly matters when a quarter of the MPs cannot be considered for screening-if you want to pass such a cross-factional motion, you count heads, and that is not easy.”
