The chairman of the Left parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Sören Pellmann, is urging CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz to discipline his own party following the election of an AfD candidate to the State Parliament Presidency in Saxony-Anhalt.
Pellmann told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that the CDU’s attempt to dodge responsibility is scandalous. He emphasized that neither the Greens, the Left, nor anyone else would donate votes to the far-right AfD candidate for the State Parliament President. He strongly countered the CDU’s argument that any talk of CDU support for the AfD candidate, Tobias Rausch, is mere speculation, asserting that this discourse merely serves as a distraction from the dangerous trajectory parts of the CDU are pursuing: cooperation with the AfD.
The Left politician added that Merz cannot afford to remain silent. As party leader, he bears the ultimate responsibility for managing his ranks. Otherwise, he risks being associated with the Magdeburg scandal and further clearing the path for the far-right AfD to gain power.
In Pellmann’s view, the first necessary step for Merz is to make a public statement as quickly as possible, accept responsibility, and clearly explain how he intends to regain control of the party. This must include concrete plans to prevent CDU votes from supporting an AfD State President or curtailing any other forms of collaboration between the party and the AfD.
