CDU politician meets with AfD Union offsite
CDU Politician Saskia Ludwig Attends Controversial Hungarian Festival
Saskia Ludwig, a CDU politician from Brandenburg, has found herself at the centre of controversy after attending a right-wing think tank festival in Hungary. The event, organised by the Mathias-Corvinus-Collegium (MCC), a think tank often associated with the government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, saw the attendance of several notable figures, including tech billionaire Peter Thiel, known for his conservative positions.
The CDU of Brandenburg, Ludwig's state association, has distanced itself from her attendance, stating that she did not represent the group and was not acting with their knowledge. This stance is in line with the CDU's long-standing incompatibility resolution, which explicitly excludes any cooperation with the AfD.
Ludwig's attendance at the festival has sparked criticism, particularly due to her previous stance on the issue. In the past, she has spoken out against a firewall with the AfD and gave a joint interview with former AfD state leader Alexander Gauland in 2017. The Green Youth organisation is demanding her expulsion from the Union's federal parliamentary group, with Jakob Blasel, co-chair of the Green youth organisation, stating that expulsion is necessary to uphold democracy.
Ludwig, however, defended her attendance, referring to free exchange of opinions as a central element of a democratic society. Gregory Gosciniak, head of the Young Socialists of the CDU Brandenburg, stated that Ludwig has "finally forfeited her representation rights."
The MCC is a significant institution in Hungary for fostering national-conservative intellectual development, with strong symbolic ties to Hungary’s historical legacy and contemporary right-wing political currents, notably those connected with Fidesz and its ideological framework. The training at MCC emphasizes a legal and cultural education framed through national traditions and national interests, often reflecting civic-nationalist and conservative values.
Unverified photos circulating online show Ludwig and AfD leader Alice Weidel at the festival. Weidel, who was also present at the event, expressed surprise at the criticism of her interaction with Ludwig. General Secretary Gordon Hoffmann of the CDU of Brandenburg does not see a majority for changing the resolution that excludes coalitions with the AfD.
Friedrich Merz, CDU leader, has repeatedly stated that there will be no cooperation with the AfD. The CDU rejects coalitions and similar forms of cooperation with the AfD, according to the incompatibility resolution of the federal party from 2018. The University of Potsdam is currently investigating allegations of plagiarism in Ludwig's own doctoral thesis.
- Amidst mounting criticism, the policy-and-legislation aspect of the CDU's relationship with the controversial Hungarian festival, where Saskia Ludwig attended, has come under scrutiny, particularly given her past stances on cooperation with right-wing parties such as the AfD.
- The controversy surrounding the CDU Politician Saskia Ludwig's attendance at the crime-and-justice-focused Hungarian festival, where she was seen alongside AfD leader Alice Weidel, highlights the ongoing debates within the German politics, especially in the context of general-news topics like cooperation between traditional parties and far-right groups.
