Politics · Germany · 2 days ago
CSU deputy calls for easing the Union’s separation from AfD
Manfred Weber, a senior CSU politician, wants the conservative Union to soften its strict separation from the AfD, a right-wing party.
He made the call after the CDU suffered defeats in three state elections in September.
Weber says the separation, often called a “firewall,” makes it harder for the Union to advance its policies in state parliaments.
In Thuringia and Saxony, where minority governments are in power, he says the Union often has to work with left-wing parties.
Thuringia’s CDU state premier, Mario Voigt, argues that the party should instead focus on people’s concerns, including the cost of heating, fuel and groceries.
The CDU leadership is due to meet on Sunday and Monday with Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss the election losses and the party’s reform plans.
Voigt says the meeting will help set the party’s direction for the coming months.
CSU deputy Manfred Weber called for an end to the political firewall separating the CDU and CSU from the AfD.
He said the approach had failed and was a major burden for the Union in state parliaments.
Weber linked his call to the CDU’s defeats in three state elections in September.
Thuringia’s CDU premier Mario Voigt called for the party to focus on people’s everyday concerns and clarify what it stands for.
The CDU presidium was due to meet on Sunday and Monday to discuss the election losses and the party’s reform course.
- Who
- Manfred Weber, deputy leader of the CSU, called for ending the firewall. Mario Voigt, Thuringia’s CDU premier, called for a focus on policy and everyday concerns.
- What
- Weber urged the Union to soften its political separation from the AfD.
- When
- The article was published on October 10, 2026. The CDU presidium was due to meet on Sunday and Monday.
- Where
- Germany; Weber discussed the issue in relation to state parliaments and the European Parliament.
- Why
- Weber said the firewall had failed and burdened the Union, which he said was forced to vote against CDU positions. Voigt said the CDU should address issues such as the cost of heating, fuel and shopping.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The firewall in the sense of ‘them or us’ must become history.
It is a huge burden for us as the Union if, in state parliaments where we have minority governments, in Thuringia and Saxony, we constantly vote with left-wing parties and thereby make even more left-wing policies.
I feel a deep longing among the grassroots for the CDU to clearly state again what it stands for.
The CDU suffered defeats in three state elections.
Weber called for an end to the political firewall against the AfD.
The CDU presidium was due to meet to discuss the election losses and the party’s reform course.
- Weber
- CSU deputy and European People’s Party group leader in the European Parliament
- Three
- State elections in September in which the CDU suffered defeats
- Thuringia and Saxony
- States where Weber said the Union had minority governments
- Sunday and Monday
- Scheduled CDU presidium meeting
Sources
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