Encounter between AfD and Union Party convenes remotely with CDU representative
CDU Politician Saskia Ludwig Participates in Controversial Festival
CDU politician Saskia Ludwig has found herself at the centre of controversy after it was revealed that she participated in a festival organised by the Mathias-Corvinus-Collegium (MCC) in Hungary on August 1. The MCC, a Hungarian educational institution, is known for its close ties to the Orbán government and its promotion of right-wing populist and far-right ideology.
The MCC has been identified as a hub for far-right nationalist ideas and reactionary ideology, sharing strategies and ideological ties with far-right political parties and movements in Europe. It has been criticised for promoting narratives against climate policy, gender rights, civil society, and the European Union.
Ludwig, who served as the state chairwoman of the CDU Brandenburg from 2010 to 2012 and has been a member of the state parliament from 2004 to 2025, and the Bundestag since 2025, was part of a panel discussion titled "A new government in uncertain global political waters." Other participants at the festival included Peter Thiel, a tech billionaire known for his right-wing conservative positions, and AfD leader Alice Weidel.
Unverified photos show Ludwig and Weidel at the MCC festival. This has led to calls for Ludwig's exclusion from the CDU due to her participation in the event. The Greens Youth has demanded that Saskia Ludwig be excluded from the CDU and expelled from the Union's Bundestag faction. Gregory Gosciniak, head of the Young Social Wing of the CDU Brandenburg, stated that Ludwig has "finally forfeited her representation rights."
The CDU Brandenburg's General Secretary, Gordon Hoffmann, stated that there is a clear party congress resolution excluding coalitions with the AfD. The CDU's incompatibility resolution from 2018 rejects coalitions and similar forms of cooperation with the AfD and the Left. CDU leader Friedrich Merz has threatened party exclusion for cooperation-willing Christian Democrats of the East state associations.
Ludwig herself has stated that free exchange of opinions is essential for a democratic society, and she did not fear repression for discussing with various visitors. However, her participation in the MCC festival has raised questions about her alignment with the CDU's stance on cooperation with far-right groups.
The University of Potsdam has also raised concerns about Ludwig, with a suspicion of plagiarism in her own doctoral thesis. This adds to the controversy surrounding Ludwig and her future within the CDU.
The Union faction in the Bundestag has distanced itself from Ludwig, stating she did not represent the faction nor had the leadership's knowledge. AfD leader Alice Weidel expressed surprise at the criticism and considered the conversation with Ludwig to be casual. The situation remains unclear as the CDU decides on Ludwig's future within the party.
- The controversy surrounding CDU politician Saskia Ludwig continues to grow, as her participation in the MCC festival, a hub for far-right nationalist ideas and reactionary ideology, has led to discussions about her alignment with the CDU's stance on cooperation with far-right groups, particularly in the context of policy-and-legislation and politics.
- As the CDU grapples with questions about Saskia Ludwig's future within the party, the general-news and crime-and-justice sectors have focused on her association with controversial events, including the MCC festival, and potential ties to far-right ideologies, which could have significant implications for her roles in state and national politics.
