SPD calls for CDU to dismantle the firewall - towards a more leftist stance
In a recent development, SPD politicians in Thuringia have called for a re-evaluation of the CDU's stance towards the Left Party, citing growing support for the far-right AfD as a major concern.
Georg Maier, Thuringia's Interior Minister and SPD state leader, made this statement in the Handelsblatt. He argued that democratic parties should always be able to form coalitions among themselves to counter the AfD's strategy. Maier's sentiments were echoed by Sebastian Fiedler, the SPD's parliamentary group's interior policy spokesman, and Sebastian Roloff, his economic policy colleague. Roloff described the Union's resolution as "outdated."
The call for a change in approach comes amidst a poll in Saxony-Anhalt showing the AfD at 39% and the CDU at 27%. Ralf Stegner, another SPD politician, sees no reason to rule out a left-wing coalition, stating that cooperation among democratic parties is possible in the interest of "defensive democracy."
However, the CDU has so far rejected these demands. Sepp Müller, the deputy chairman of the CDU faction, stated that trivializing cooperation with the "successor to the SED" is a historical mistake. Dennis Radtke, the CDU's labor spokesman, warned against "political navel-gazing" and called for addressing the right topics in the right language.
The CDU has had a resolution banning any cooperation with the AfD or the Left Party since 2018. Yet, in certain situations, such as reforming the debt brake or electing judges, a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag can only be achieved with the Left's votes.
Stegner emphasized that cooperation with "enemies of democracy like the far-right AfD" is incompatible. Maier, on the other hand, believes that incompatibility resolutions hinder the formation of stable governments and benefit the AfD.
This debate is not limited to Thuringia. The SPD politicians are urging the CDU to reconsider their approach towards the Left Party due to high AfD poll numbers across Germany. The implications of this political shift could significantly alter the German political landscape in the coming years.
