CDU Reaffirms No Cooperation With Far-Right AfD Ahead of Elections

The CDU leadership meets to endorse the “firewall” policy that prohibits any alliance with the AfD, amidst internal debate and rising far-right polling.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has entered a crucial strategic retreat ahead of next year’s state elections, during which internal fault-lines over how to deal with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) have resurfaced. At the heart of the gathering: whether the longstanding “firewall” policy – barring any collaboration with the AfD – is still viable or needs adjusting.

Strategic Retreat in the Forest

Party officials convened in a secluded estate in Berlin’s Grunewald forest rather than the usual headquarters, signalling the high-stakes, high-confidentiality nature of the talks. Over the two-day meeting, the CDU leadership focused on government work ahead and the looming regional ballots in Germany’s eastern states, where the AfD has made significant gains.

The agenda was not publicly released, but sources say the AfD’s electoral rise was a key topic. Some regional CDU branches in former East Germany are openly questioning whether the rigid non-cooperation line still serves their interests—and whether the party must re-engage for survival.

The Party Leader Reaffirms the Firewall

Chancellor and CDU chair Friedrich Merz used a Saturday town-hall in Meschede to restate: “There is no common ground between the CDU and the AfD – especially not under my leadership as party chair.” He emphasised that the AfD opposes the European Union, the euro, and NATO—pillars that have held Germany’s post-war order together. Cooperation, he said, is off the table “as long as I lead the party.”

Merz also rejected a party ban for the AfD, citing high legal burdens and lack of sympathy for such a move. Instead, he called for a clearer offer to voters so that they never weigh the AfD as a credible alternative. “We must provide voters in Germany a good offer so they do not even think of voting for that party,” he said.

Support from the Party Base—For Now

Major figures within the CDU and its Bavarian sister-party (CSU) have backed the firewall stance. Deputy chairman Karl-Josef Laumann branded the AfD a “Nazi-party,” while Andreas Jung rejected any policy shift toward collaboration. The CSU’s secretary-general echoed the position: any cooperation with the AfD is “excluded.”

Despite this public unity, the pressure cooker of regional dynamics remains. Former general-secretary Peter Tauber, together with several East-German state chairmen, is calling for a rethink, arguing the CDU is haemorrhaging support by refusing any cooperation—even in pragmatic local governance.

What’s Driving the Pressure?

Several electoral and structural factors are shaking the CDU’s resolve:

• In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD recently polled near 40 %, while the CDU languished at 26 %.
• Some local politicians argue the firewall prevents them from forming viable regional coalitions and thus lose power entirely.
• The broader debate reflects a changing political cleavage in Germany: one increasingly defined by culture and identity rather than traditional class or economic lines. Academy research supports this shift.

In sum: the CDU is seeking to defend its centre-right identity while facing the real risk of irrelevance in the east unless it adapts.

What’s Next: Tactical Adjustments or Core Change?

From the retreat, the party is expected to announce refined voter messaging, targeted aid packages and field strategies in eastern states. The question: Will those be tactical tweaks—keeping the firewall intact—or major strategic change?

Analysts expect the press conference on Monday to reaffirm the firewall, while signalling more vigorous engagement with middle-ground voters and a sharper contrast with the AfD’s programme.

What does the firewall mean?

The firewall is the CDU’s 2018 resolution forbidding cooperation or coalition with the AfD, a party seen by many as hostile to Germany’s liberal-democratic order.

Why is the debate surfacing now?

Because the AfD’s regional strength is growing—especially in former East Germany—and some regional CDU branches believe the current clamp-down limits their political options.

Will the CDU change its stance?

Nationally the leadership is signalling no change under Merz’s watch. But internal dissent means the issue may re-emerge if electoral losses deepen.

What are the risks of softening the stance?

A shift could alienate moderate voters, blur the CDU’s identity and risk legitimising a party with extremist roots in the view of many Germans.

Strategic Stakes for Germany

The CDU’s decision holds implications beyond party lines. How the main conservative party handles the far-right will shape coalition-building, governance norms and the broader debate on democracy in a polarized Europe. If the firewall holds, the CDU risks electoral decline. If it fractures, the entire centre-right coalition may face a legitimacy challenge in Germany’s system.

Either way, first-place or second-place votes aside, the CDU’s choices will echo through German politics and beyond.

Sources: welt.de arxiv.org wikipedia.org brusselssignal.eu germanpolicy.com