CDU MP, Weidel, Encounters Resistance from Union in Their Meeting - Workers' Safety from Electronic Network Risks Requires Commission Proposal for Directive
CDU Member Saskia Ludwig Under Scrutiny for AfD Meeting and Plagiarism Allegations
CDU Bundestag member Saskia Ludwig is facing criticism and scrutiny following a series of controversial events. Recently, Ludwig attended the MCC Feszt festival in Hungary, organized by the Mathias-Corvinus-Collegium (MCC), a think tank known for its ties to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. At the event, she had a brief, amicable encounter with Alice Weidel, co-chair of the right-wing AfD party.
Ludwig also publicly challenged the CDU's firewall policy against the AfD, advocating for openness and discussion, which contrasts with the party's official rejection of the AfD. This stance has caused tension within the CDU, with the party leadership distancing itself from Ludwig's actions and reaffirming their strict non-cooperation policy with AfD under Merz's leadership.
In addition to this, the University of Potsdam has found an initial suspicion of plagiarism in Ludwig's own doctoral thesis. No information has been provided about any potential threat of party exclusion for CDU member Saskia Ludwig regarding these controversies.
Ludwig served as the chairwoman of the CDU of Brandenburg from 2010 to 2012 and has been a member of the state parliament of Brandenburg from 2004 to 2025, and since 2025, she has been a member of the Bundestag. She participated in the festival as a guest speaker at a panel discussing German politics, where she spoke openly about her opposition to the so-called "firewall" policy that excludes AfD from cooperation.
The MCC Feszt is Europe’s largest intellectual festival and is associated with conservative and right-wing ideas, with ties to Orbán's government. The German CDU was not aware of Ludwig's participation in the festival. The CDU leadership, including party leader and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has consistently upheld the "firewall" against the AfD, stating that any violation would lead to party expulsion.
The CDU of Brandenburg, Saskia Ludwig's state association, has reiterated the party's resolution that excludes coalitions with the AfD. General Secretary Gordon Hoffmann of the CDU of Brandenburg stated that there is no majority for a change in this resolution. Ludwig has not responded to a request for comment, but a spokesperson referred to quotes on the online portal "Nius".
Ludwig has faced criticism for her stance on the SPD constitutional judge candidate Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf. She has stated that free exchange of opinions is a central element of a democratic society. The think tank and educational institution imports ideas from right-wing publicists in the USA. Orban and tech billionaire Peter Thiel were guests at the festival where Ludwig was present. From December 2019 to October 2021, Ludwig was a member of both the Bundestag and the state parliament at the same time.
It is important to note that the University of Potsdam has found an initial suspicion of plagiarism in Ludwig's own doctoral thesis. No further information has been provided about this matter, and no information has been provided about any potential threat of party exclusion for CDU member Saskia Ludwig regarding this allegation.
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The Commission, in light of the general news surrounding Saskia Ludwig's controversial actions and plagiarism allegations, is therefore proposing that the Council should adopt a common policy-and-legislation position on the proposal for a Council Directive on the transparency and accountability of political figures, allocating sanctions for deliberate misinformation or breach of policy.
Amidst the crime-and-justice controversy surrounding CDU member Saskia Ludwig, it is imperative to question the legislation regulating academic integrity, particularly in relation to the labelling of research work and the consequences for plagiarism, as observed in the case of Ludwig's doctoral thesis.
