Former CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has issued a stern warning to her party, cautioning against entering into a minority government supported by the AfD. Speaking to the FAZ, Kramp-Karrenbauer asserted that the AfD has deliberately created a “bridge” for the CDU by setting conditions for the tolerance of such a government, luring the CDU with specific issues that are important to the far-right party. She warned that if the CDU falls for this tactic, and the other political parties consequently distance themselves from the CDU, the AfD would likely withdraw its support on crucial matters, such as continued aid for Ukraine.
“If one goes down that path, you end up in the hostage situation of the AfD,” Kramp-Karrenbauer stated. This assessment comes as an internal AfD strategy paper from the previous week outlined how the party could make itself indispensable to the Union and potentially weaken the “red line” (Brandmauer) if a minority government arrangement were pursued.
While acknowledging that many argue the “red line” must fall, Kramp-Karrenbauer criticized the lack of clarity regarding what this meant in practice. She dismissed exploratory talks (Sondierungsgespräche) with the AfD as the wrong approach. Furthermore, she argued that a minority government supported by the AfD would be functionally equivalent to a coalition, given that neither the SPD, the Greens, nor the Left Party would continue collaborating with the CDU in such a scenario. If the CDU were to pursue this course despite her warnings, the Christian democrat threatened to withdraw from the party.
Regarding the formation of government in Berlin following the election, Kramp-Karrenbauer placed “enormous responsibility” on the SPD and the Greens. She described the state chapter of the Left Party as possessing “significant differences,” noting that the Berlin chapter contained a “strongly antisemitic current” and championed “socialist concepts” such as expropriation. She cautioned that if the Greens or SPD joined a coalition with the Left Party, they would provoke questions about why the CDU’s “raised finger” (symbol of moral high ground) should be accepted if these parties were willing to govern alongside those who tolerate hatred towards Jewish people.
