Union politicians are calling for a move away from the firewall to the AfD – what now?

Union politicians are calling for a move away from the firewall to the AfD – what now?

In the current political discussion, the Union is faced with the challenge of rethinking its stance on the AfD. LocalCompass reports that some Union politicians are calling for a move away from the AfD's previously strict firewall. This development provides plenty of topics for discussion and divides opinions within party committees.

Schleswig-Holstein's state chief Daniel Günther is particularly skeptical and believes that such demands misunderstand what civil really means. The CSU leadership, on the other hand, categorically rejects any relaxation of this firewall. Günther sums it up: “We have a clear stance towards the AfD and nothing will change.” The CSU chairman Markus Söder also warns of the possible consequences of the AfD's participation in government, which, as the survey results show, is increasing sharply.

A hard course or change?

What is striking is the sudden discussion about how to deal with the AfD, which was initiated by, among others, former general secretaries of the CDU and CSU. ZDF Today emphasizes that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg describes the firewall's previous strategy as unsuccessful. The AfD has gained support in recent months and could even break the 40 percent mark in Saxony-Anhalt, which puts the formation of a government within reach for the AfD.

The CDU chairman Friedrich Merz is therefore planning a closed meeting to persuade the party to take a tougher course towards the AfD. “Ignoring it is no longer possible,” said Merz. In view of these developments, Peter Tauber, former general secretary of the CDU, admits that the debate about a different approach to the AfD is leading to tensions within the Union. Critics such as former Chancellor Angela Merkel describe the AfD as an “inhumane party”.

AfD strategies

But while the Union struggles to preserve its identity, the AfD is already planning its next steps. Corrective shows that the AfD sees the firewall as a hurdle on the way to power. Beatrix von Storch, deputy parliamentary group leader, recently presented strategies to increase the acceptance of her party and split the governing coalition.

These strategies include a culture war that is intended to create tensions between the AfD and the Left in order to push the SPD and the Greens to the left. The AfD also wants to build pressure on the Union by questioning its basic values. Jens Spahn, the CDU parliamentary group leader, reacted combatively and continued to reiterate that the CDU will take a clear stance against the AfD.

The political wind in Germany is blowing surprisingly strong, and how the CDU/CSU will position itself against the AfD remains to be seen. The fact is that the dialogue on these questions continues and the upcoming federal election in January 2026 could represent a decisive turning point.