CSU leader Markus Söder has firmly ruled out any cooperation with the AfD, emphasizing the party's role as a safeguard against extremism. At a CSU party meeting in Nuremberg, Söder guaranteed that there would be no collaboration between the Union and the AfD, underlining their opposition to the right-wing party as a defender of Germany's free democracy.
Söder's statements come amidst criticism following a Bundestag vote where the Union's migration policy paper passed with AfD support. Demonstrations against right-wing extremism, including a major rally in Munich titled "Democracy Needs You!", echo public sentiment against such alliances.
Despite favorable polls, Söder dismissed the idea of his party campaigning for second votes for the FDP or Freie Wähler, stressing the Union's need for both first and second votes in the upcoming elections. He firmly stated that no "borrowed votes" should be given to other parties, asserting the Union's independent path.
CSU's Alexander Dobrindt echoed these sentiments, labeling the AfD as "traitors" rather than patriots and positioning the Union as a bulwark against right-wing radicals. Confident of success in the upcoming elections, Dobrindt emphasized the party's readiness for a political shift.
Additionally, Söder criticized gender ideology and called for more political restraint from churches, which have criticized the Union's migration policies. His remarks reflect a broader strategy to consolidate the Union's political stance and appeal to a wide voter base while maintaining a clear distance from extremist elements.
