Politics · Germany · 1 hr ago
Söder urges CDU lawmakers who back AfD to leave the party
Markus Söder, leader of the CSU and Bavaria’s minister-president, appeared on a German television programme on Sunday.
He called on any CDU lawmakers who vote for an AfD candidate to say so publicly and consider leaving their party.
The call followed a secret vote in Saxony-Anhalt in which the AfD candidate for state parliament president received four more votes than the AfD and the BSW together held.
Söder said the result suggested there may have been support from outside those parties, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz had also suggested it could have been a deception aimed at the CDU.
Söder said he did not consider the AfD a normal party, citing its positions on people with disabilities, Germany’s Nazi past and Russia.
He also warned that replacing the chancellor amid the government’s narrow majority could bring early elections and strengthen the AfD.
Söder urged the governing parties to agree on how to move the country forward rather than stay together only out of fear of the AfD.
CSU leader Markus Söder urged any CDU lawmakers considering support for an AfD candidate to publicly acknowledge it and leave the party.
He said the AfD was not a normal party, citing its positions on people with disabilities, Germany’s Nazi past and Russia.
Söder said the result of a secret vote for Saxony-Anhalt’s state parliament president suggested there may have been CDU defectors.
The AfD candidate received four more votes than the AfD and the BSW together had seats in the state parliament.
Söder also warned that replacing Chancellor Friedrich Merz could lead to early elections and a strong AfD showing.
- Who
- Markus Söder, leader of the CSU and Bavaria’s minister-president.
- What
- He urged CDU lawmakers considering backing an AfD candidate to publicly acknowledge it and leave the party.
- When
- During an appearance on the Caren Miosga programme; the article was published on 12 October 2026.
- Where
- On the Caren Miosga programme. The vote discussed was in Saxony-Anhalt.
- Why
- Söder said the AfD was not a normal party and that lawmakers who supported it should change political allegiance.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Anyone who votes for the AfD does not really have a future with us.
I just think that all those who are considering doing something like that should have the backbone to make it public.
A coalition makes no sense if it is held together only out of fear of someone.
They probably prefer driving Russian Ladas anyway.
The fuel discount mentioned by Söder had taken effect.
Söder appeared on the Caren Miosga programme and discussed the vote in Saxony-Anhalt.
t-online published its report on Söder’s remarks.
- Vote
- The AfD candidate received four more votes than the AfD and BSW together had seats
- State
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Candidate named in the report
- Tobias Rausch
- CSU leader
- Markus Söder
- Published
- 12 October 2026
Sources
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