Tussle Within CDU Over Handling Far-Right Politician Roerderr's Opinions on AfD
- Written by Julius Betschka
- Est. Read Time: 3 Min
- Historian Rödder instigates a contentious disagreement within the CDU, reviving the AfD issue.
A ruckus has ignited within the CDU, sparking a new debate over how to manage the AfD. Historian and former head of the CDU's fundamental values commission, Andreas Roerderr, suggested welcoming the AfD into the party ranks, leading to fierce opposition. "Roerderr seems to have no practical experience with the AfD," said Andreas Buhler, chairman of the CDU's parliamentary group in Thuringia, to stern. "He underestimates the hate speech we face every week in local councils and state parliaments." Roerderr's approach is "overly intellectual," Buhler insisted, emphasizing that the AfD should not be entrusted with responsibility.
In the past, Roerderr advocated for a "conditionally open discussion" with the AfD. He argued that the CDU must break free from the "left-green ideological stranglehold." Roerderr believes that exclusionary decisions are inherently problematic, and has suggested appointing an honorary AfD member as a parliamentary president and seating AfD politicians as committee chairs. He views AfD honorary chairman Alexander Gauland as a "respectable figure."
AfD: Only Aiming for Destruction
Buhler counters that the AfD seeks destruction. The party exploits every opportunity to erode and harm the established order. "We have witnessed in the Thuringian state parliament how the AfD, led by its honorary president, sought to undermine every form of co-determination rights," Buhler stated. This illustrates that the party's rules require adjustment. "We have made those adjustments in Thuringia and support them at the federal level," Buhler asserted.
Buhler urged the CDU against aligning itself with the AfD, warning that "these people are not the friendly conservatives you might find next door." The AfD's primary objective is the CDU's demise. "We are the last bulwark against their assault on power." Despite this, Buhler called for nuance in political debates, stating that a black-and-white distinction between good and evil does not help. "Instead, we must confront the issues troubling the public head-on."
The Cliffnotes of Federal Politics
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Historian Andreas Roerderr is a prominent conservative ideologue within the CDU and maintains strong connections within the party. In 2022, he was appointed chairman of the Basic Values Commission following Friedrich Merz's election as party leader. However, he ultimately stepped down from his post after facing internal criticism for advocating measures such as less "firewall hysteria." Currently, Roerderr heads the liberal-conservative think tank "Republik21." In a recent Die Welt interview, he expressed his reservations about the CDU.
CDU's Souring Atmosphere
Over the past few weeks, the mood within the CDU has grown increasingly tense, as polling numbers falter and mixed results emerge from coalition negotiation working groups. Reports of members leaving the party have multiplied at head office. The head of the Young Union threatened to reject the coalition agreement if there are no significant improvements. Former Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg and former EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger is also pressuring the CDU leadership, led by Friedrich Merz, during coalition negotiations. "The financing of infrastructure through an exception to the debt brake is tempting. We desperately need reforms in areas like social benefits, labor market, and subsidies," Oettinger told stern. "I hope that the Union and SPD will agree on a new agenda in the coalition negotiations." Oettinger, once a close ally of the CDU leader, also expressed dissatisfaction that no repayment mechanism for sizable debt amounts has been agreed upon thus far. "I expect a bill determining how, when, and whether the 1000 billion euros in debt, now created through special funds and defense financing, will be repaid. Inflation cannot be relied upon as a means of repayment."
- CDU
- AfD
- Andreas Roerderr
- Thuringia
- The Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of the new rules, but historians like Andreas Roerderr, a former head of the CDU's fundamental values commission and a prominent conservative ideologue, have been advocating for a conditionally open discussion with the AfD, considering their suggestions for the CDU to break free from the "left-green ideological stranglehold."
- Politicians like Andreas Buhler, chairman of the CDU's parliamentary group in Thuringia, have stressed the need to adjust the rules surrounding the AfD, given the party's actions aimed at destruction as demonstrated in the Thuringian state parliament, where the AfD, led by its honorary president, sought to undermine every form of co-determination rights.
- Despite the ongoing debates, it is worth noting that Rohderr views AfD honorary chairman Alexander Gauland as a "respectable figure" and has suggested appointing an honorary AfD member as a parliamentary president and seating AfD politicians as committee chairs, a proposal that has drawn fierce opposition within the CDU.
