CDU rules out coalition with AfD or Left Party

Voigt: "Unthinkable"

Survey shows quarter of voters open to AfD alliance

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz has ruled out any cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) or the Left Party, stating that such a coalition is "unthinkable."

Merz's comments come amid a survey by research group Wahlen for the ZDF Politbarometer, which found that a quarter of voters would support a CDU-AfD alliance. However, Merz emphasized that the CDU's values are incompatible with those of the AfD, which has been accused of xenophobia and anti-Semitism.

Political analyst Olaf Sundermeyer has warned that a CDU-AfD coalition in eastern Germany could be particularly damaging to the party. In the same vein, Werner Patzelt, another political scientist, has cautioned that such a coalition could lead to the CDU's disintegration.

The CDU's rejection of the AfD is significant as the party has made gains in recent elections, particularly in eastern Germany. In the 2021 federal election, the AfD won 10.3% of the vote, making it the third-largest party in the Bundestag.

Despite the growing support for the AfD, the CDU remains the largest opposition party in Germany. It is unclear how the CDU's decision to rule out a coalition with the AfD will impact its electoral prospects in the future.