The Green and Left parties in the German Bundestag have strongly accused the CDU of supporting Malte Kaufmann, an AfD candidate, during the election for the deputy chair of the Economic Committee.
According to Michael Kellner, the Green Party’s spokesman on the committee, a speaking to Der Spiegel, he claimed that nearly half of the CDU members on the Economic Committee voted for the far-right party. Kellner further alleged that CDU politicians, citing the Brandenburg representative Saskia Ludwig as an example, were openly displaying sympathy for the AfD, suggesting that party leader Jens Spahn has lost control of his own faction.
Severe criticism also came from the Left wing. Janine Wissler, the party’s spokeswoman for economic policy and deputy faction leader, described the CDU’s decision to vote as “alarming and shameful”. Wissler noted that it seemed clear that several CDU members actually desired an AfD deputy chairmanship for the committee.
The far-right party’s increasing influence is causing concern, with opponents arguing that the traditional political divide is deteriorating. Wissler pointed out that the AfD candidate had gained four votes compared to the last election held in September 2025, demanding that efforts to prevent the “normalization” of the AfD must be sustained every day.
Details from the vote indicated that Kaufmann was elected once again, through a secret ballot. He received 16 votes-even though the AfD is only allocated ten seats. This suggests that he received support from at least six deputies belonging to other political factions.
