Election campaign: As a chancellor, Merz does not want to bet on AfD votes

CDU boss Friedrich Merz categorically excluded that he would put on AfD votes in a government he had led. He had “really said very clearly and very clearly several times: We will not be able to cooperate with the AfD. We are fighting for political majorities in the broad middle of our democratic spectrum,” said the Union Chancellor candidate when visiting the hall for the election party congress in Berlin. When asked whether he would accept AfD votes for a majority, he replied: “No.”

The party congress on this Monday is to decide on a “immediate program” in which the CDU promises, among other things, to implement Merz’s controversial five-point plan to stop the illegal migration immediately after taking a government takeover. In addition, the CDU wants to quickly turn back numerous decisions from the failed traffic light coalition by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).

Merz had caused outrage because he accepted in the Bundestag on Wednesday that his five-point plan only got a majority thanks to the AfD votes. The advance provides for permanent border controls, rejections at the borders and a temporary retirement arrest for criminals and endangers that are subject to departure. The decision does not have a binding effect. A draft law of the Union to limit migration failed on Friday in the Bundestag despite the approval of the AfD.

Large demonstration in Berlin

Nationwide, tens of thousands of the Union and the AfD were on the streets nationwide. The greatest demonstration took place in Berlin on Sunday. Under the motto “Uprising of the decent – we are the fire wall!” extended a protest train from the victory column to the CDU party center. The police spoke in the late afternoon of around 160,000 people, the organizers of 250,000.

The publicist and moderator Michel Friedman, who had left the CDU after the Bundestag vote, protected the party in the demonstration. With all the legitimate criticism, one thing should not be forgotten: “The CDU is a democratic party,” said Friedman. With a view to the AfD, he added: “The party of hate is the party that is not on the ground of democracy.” However, the CDU’s mistake remains unexcused for him.

Protests are also expected on the edge of the party congress

Criticism of the approach of Merz had also come from the churches and former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). While the SPD, the Greens and the left spoke of a taboo and dam break, Merz countered this with the words that a correct decision is not wrong by the wrong decision.

Demonstrations against a cooperation between the Union with the AfD are also announced for the CDU party conference on this Monday. It is eagerly awaited whether criticism of Merz will also be loud from the ranks of the 1001 delegates on an open stage.

Merz appeals to demonstrators

The CDU chief called on the demonstrators to protest peacefully. The right to demonstrate “does not include violence, neither against people nor against things”. Merz added: “Of course we also deal with peaceful demonstrators. We talk to the political opponent. We are carrying out the discussions where they belong, namely in the plenary of the German Bundestag.”

“Guarantee” for changes in asylum and economic policy

The next government must make decisions in economic and migration policy, emphasized Merz on the tour of the hall. “I personally stand up for that. Just as is very clear and without any doubt it remains clear: We will not work with the AfD,” he added. “We have never worked with them, we won’t work with them. And nobody has to worry that this will take place. It does not take place with us, with me.” In the “Bild am Sonntag”, Merz gave the voters a “guarantee” that there would be a real change in economic policy and asylum policy.

Immediate program with a focus on economy and security

The 15-point program under the title “Our immediate program for prosperity and security” contains essential parts from the CDU election program. With every decision, you will make sure “that it serves the competitiveness of the German economy, the prosperity and security of people in the country,” says the paper.

“Priority for competitiveness and prosperity”

Electricity tax and network charges are to be reduced, so that a relief of at least five cents per kilowatt hour arises. For a dismantling of the bureaucracy, the CDU wants fewer operating officers, no bonus obligation, abolition of German supply chain regulation and the stress by the Energy Efficiency Act. The heating law of the traffic light is to be abolished and the agricultural reward remuneration is being completely reintroduced.

Instead of a daily, a weekly maximum working time should be determined and thus enabled more flexible work. Oxyion surcharges are to be made tax -free. If you want to voluntarily work in retirement, you should get your salary up to 2,000 euros a month. The CDU wants to reduce sales tax on food in restaurants and restaurants to seven percent. In addition, the number of government officers is to be halved.

“Safety for people in Germany”

In addition to the five-point plan, the CDU also wants to continue to pursue the “Conflection Limitation Act” failed on Friday in the Bundestag. A limitation of migration is mentioned as a clear legal goal, as is the end of the family reunification for subsidiary – i.e. limited – authorized persons and more powers for the federal police.

It remains open whether the CDU can enforce its announcements after a victory in the Bundestag election – and if so, to what extent. According to the current surveys, the Union should be dependent on the SPD or Greens in the formation of a government.