Encounter between AfD and Union political figures at a remote distance with a CDU member
CDU Distances Saskia Ludwig from Parliamentary Group Over Hungary Event
Saskia Ludwig, a CDU politician, has been distanced by her party from the Union's parliamentary group following her participation in a right-wing event in Hungary. The CDU's move comes in response to reports and images showing Ludwig in friendly conversation with far-right figures, which has caused backlash within the party.
The CDU's incompatibility resolution, established in 2018, rejects coalitions and similar forms of cooperation with the AfD and the Left. The party's distancing of Ludwig signifies a significant loss of support and possible internal disciplinary consequences. However, no explicit information indicates that she has been formally expelled or resigned from the parliamentary group.
Ludwig attended a festival at the Mathias-Corvinus-Collegium (MCC) in Hungary on August 1, an institution associated with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and known for importing ideas from right-wing publicists in the USA. Alice Weidel, the leader of the AfD, was also present at the event. The specific conversation between Ludwig and Weidel was described as casual and brief by Weidel's spokesperson.
Tech billionaire Peter Thiel, known for his right-wing conservative positions, was also a guest at the MCC festival. In the past, Ludwig has sparked criticism, including in January when she spoke out against a firewall with the AfD and showed openness to a "center-right coalition."
Ludwig served as the state chairwoman of the CDU Brandenburg from 2010 to 2012, was a member of the state parliament from 2004 to 2025, and has been a member of the Bundestag since 2025. She also served in both the Bundestag and the state parliament in between.
Recently, Ludwig had demanded that SPD's constitutional court candidate, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, step down from her position at the University of Potsdam due to plagiarism allegations. However, the University of Potsdam has since found a suspicion of plagiarism in Ludwig's own doctoral thesis.
The Green Youth organization has demanded the exclusion of Ludwig from the CDU's parliamentary group, while Gregory Gosciniak, head of the Young Social Wing of the CDU Brandenburg, stated that Ludwig has "finally forfeited her right to representation." Ludwig, however, has not responded directly to the event or the party's distancing.
Ludwig maintains that free exchange of opinions is a central element of a democratic society. The CDU's general secretary, Gordon Hoffmann, referred to the party's resolution excluding coalitions with the AfD. Jakob Blasel, co-chair of the Green youth organization, stated that the CDU has a problem in dealing with right-wing extremists.
The CDU's distancing of Ludwig from the parliamentary group is a clear signal of the party's stance against cooperation with far-right figures. The situation is ongoing, and further developments are expected in the coming days.
What is the CDU's response regarding Saskia Ludwig's participation in the right-wing event in Hungary, and how does it relate to their policy-and-legislation on coalitions and cooperation with certain parties?In the midst of the CDU's distancing of Saskia Ludwig from the parliamentary group due to her participation in a right-wing event in Hungary, concerns about her future role have arisen within general-news discussions, especially those related to politics, crime-and-justice, and policy-and-legislation.
