Politics · Germany · 1 day ago
CDU leaders debate party’s approach to the AfD before meeting
Germany’s CDU leadership, led by party leader and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is meeting on Sunday and Monday to examine recent election losses.
The discussion includes the party’s approach to the AfD, a right-wing party, as well as everyday concerns such as living costs, security, migration and jobs.
CSU politician Manfred Weber and some CDU lawmakers argue that the strict barrier against the AfD should be loosened and that its policies should be debated directly.
Other senior CDU figures say the party must keep its firm opposition to the AfD.
The CDU’s current rules also rule out cooperation with the AfD and the Left Party.
The disagreement matters because it could shape how the conservative Union responds to election setbacks and handles votes in state parliaments.
The leadership meeting is expected to analyse the losses and consider what changes to make.
CDU leaders are debating whether to maintain the party’s strict separation from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The debate comes before a CDU leadership meeting on Sunday and Monday to examine recent election defeats.
CSU politician Manfred Weber and some CDU lawmakers have criticized the “firewall” approach.
Other senior CDU figures insist that cooperation with the AfD and the Left party must remain excluded.
The meeting is also expected to focus on everyday concerns such as living costs, security, migration and jobs.
- Who
- CDU leaders, including party chairman Friedrich Merz, are debating the party’s approach to the AfD.
- What
- The party is discussing whether to maintain or change its strict political separation from the AfD.
- When
- The debate was reported on October 10, 2026; the CDU leadership meeting is scheduled for Sunday and Monday.
- Where
- The meeting is a CDU leadership gathering; its location is not stated.
- Why
- The CDU plans to examine the causes and consequences of recent election defeats and discuss policy priorities.
Supporters of changing the firewall approach
Defenders of the strict separation from the AfD
Political approach
Supporters of changing the firewall approach
Manfred Weber and some CDU lawmakers say the firewall approach should be reconsidered and debate should focus more on policy content.
Defenders of the strict separation from the AfD
Senior CDU figures say the party should retain a clear separation from the AfD and uphold its existing rules against cooperation.
Consequences
Supporters of changing the firewall approach
Weber argues that the current approach burdens the Union and that discussing policies could expose the AfD’s weaknesses.
Defenders of the strict separation from the AfD
Karin Prien says the party’s position excludes cooperation with both the AfD and the Left party, and Günter Krings questions whether the rule helped the AfD grow.
The firewall in the sense of “them or us” must become history.
Otherwise the CDU, the Union in this form, will no longer exist in the long term.
We must address all the issues that matter to ordinary people: living costs, security, migration, jobs.
With the firewall, we have walled ourselves in, but the fire is still burning behind it.
The CDU suffered election defeats that its leadership plans to examine.
Manfred Weber and some CDU lawmakers criticized the firewall approach, while other senior CDU figures defended a strict separation from the AfD.
The CDU leadership, including Friedrich Merz, is scheduled to meet to analyze the election defeats and discuss their consequences.
- Meeting
- CDU leadership gathering scheduled for Sunday and Monday
- Party chairman
- Friedrich Merz
- Debate
- The CDU’s future approach to the AfD
- Election context
- Recent defeats in September
- Policy issues cited
- Living costs, security, migration and jobs
Sources
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