In an interview with the Thüringer Allgemeine newspaper, CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann suggested that informal agreements with the far-right AfD could be considered cooperation. However, he swiftly dismissed the idea of formal collaborations, stating that such an approach is out of the question. This stance contrasts with the CDU's actions in the Thuringian state parliament, where votes from the AfD were instrumental in passing two opposition bills.
Local-level CDU politicians in eastern Germany have a more flexible approach to cooperating with the AfD, a party classified as right-wing extremist by the Thuringian Office for the Protection of the Constitution. This has led to some incongruities, with the CDU at times needing AfD support to pass bills, despite its ideological differences.
The CDU's recent history in Thuringia is marked by its double-incompatibility principle being flouted. During the last term, the party tolerated a Die Linke-led minority government, while occasionally seeking majorities with the AfD on certain issues. This delicate dance resulted in complex scenarios, including migration, where the CDU found itself needing both AfD and Die Linke votes.
The impact of these informal agreements has been evident in Thuringian legislative outcomes. For instance, in 2020, the CDU-AfD cooperation led to the election of Thomas Kemmerich as state president, a move widely criticized and resulting in Kemmerich's eventual resignation. Post this incident, the CDU established stricter guidelines against cooperation with the AfD, but the challenge persists at the local level.
Linnemann's stance on formal collaborations with the AfD is unequivocal. He cautions against the potential instability and planning uncertainty that a minority government could introduce in Germany, as the fourth largest economy globally. Meanwhile, his stance on informal agreements in specific contexts remains a grey area, fuelling ongoing debate around the CDU's approach in these delicate political situations.
