Gathering with AfD - Union Distancing from CDU Politician's Conference - Encounter between AfD and Union party figures and a CDU politician takes place offsite
CDU MP Saskia Ludwig Meets AfD Leader Alice Weidel at Right-Wing Festival, Sparks Internal Criticism
German politician Saskia Ludwig, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has found herself in the midst of controversy following a brief encounter with Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, at a right-wing think tank festival in Budapest, Hungary.
The event, hosted by the Mathias-Corvinus-Collegium (MCC), a think tank often associated with the government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, took place on August 1st. Ludwig was part of a panel at the festival.
Photos from the event, though unverified, show Ludwig and Weidel in each other's company. This meeting has caused a strong backlash within the CDU, prompting the party leadership to clarify that this brief exchange did not represent any change in the party’s official stance. The CDU reiterated its decision to firmly exclude any cooperation with the AfD.
The CDU's incompatibility resolution, dating back to 2018, clearly states that any form of collaboration with the AfD is off-limits. Every CDU member is bound by this resolution, and any breach of this line would lead to immediate expulsion.
Despite this incident, the Union faction in the Bundestag has maintained its stance, continuing to uphold a strict firewall against the AfD, barring cooperation or coalition. The CDU remains aligned with the broad mainstream consensus in Germany to treat the AfD as a right-wing extremist party to be kept politically isolated.
This is not the first time Ludwig has sparked criticism. In the past, she has been criticized for her stance on the constitutional court candidate Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf and her openness to a "center-right coalition" with the AfD.
The Green Youth has demanded the exclusion of Saskia Ludwig from the Union's parliamentary group, while the Union faction in the Bundestag has distanced itself from Ludwig following her meeting with Weidel.
AfD leader Weidel, however, expressed surprise at the criticism following the meeting, suggesting that she saw it as a routine interaction during the panel discussion.
Ludwig, for her part, has not responded to a request for comment. However, she has stated in a quote that free exchange of opinions is central to a democratic society.
This incident serves as a reminder of the deep divisions within German politics and the sensitivity surrounding cooperation with parties like the AfD. It also underscores the CDU's commitment to maintaining its stance against the far-right party, despite occasional tensions and internal disagreements.
- The sensitive issue of cooperation with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has once again come to the forefront of German politics, as the Commission is therefore proposing that the Council should adopt a common position on the proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling of foodstuffs intended for human consumption, given the political implications that such alliances might have.
- Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding CDU MP Saskia Ludwig's meeting with AfD leader Alice Weidel, the incident has also highlighted the importance of policy-and-legislation, crime-and-justice, and general-news, as these topics continue to shape the broader political landscape in Germany and beyond.
