SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf has rejected the proposals of former Federal Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück concerning a different strategy for engaging with the AfD. Steinbrück had suggested setting specific red lines for the far-right party, defining boundaries within which political dialogue could potentially take place.
Klüssendorf told the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger” (Wednesday edition) that the AfD simply does not adhere to predefined limits. He argued that such boundaries would be irrelevant because, in his own words, the party seeks to undermine democratic institutions. Furthermore, he stressed that the AfD cannot be held to the same standards as other parties, asserting that the party fundamentally lacks the same constitutional basis.
While Klüssendorf conceded that Steinbrück had raised a “right and legitimate question” about the effectiveness of democratic parties’ current approach toward the AfD, he ultimately disagreed with the conclusion reached by the former Finance Minister. Klüssendorf stated that the AfD shows no genuine interest in participating in democratic discussions.
