Federal Association of Independent Voters insists on differentiation from the AfD

There is a dispute between the federal party of the Free Voters and the Saxon state association over how to distinguish themselves from the AfD. "We hope that our colleagues in Saxony will come to their senses," General Secretary Gregor Voht told the "Sächsische Zeitung" (Thursday edition). "The firewall to the AfD must stand."

The federal party conference of the Free Voters passed a resolution last Saturday in Bitburg that provides for a ban on cooperation with the AfD. One day later, the Free Voters in Saxony declared that they took note of this, but did not support it.

State leader Thomas Weidinger said: "We have not had good experiences in Germany with building walls. The AfD voters we want to win back for the middle class would also disappear behind a firewall."

The federal party, meanwhile, is insisting on compliance with the party conference resolution. "You can't choose which fundamental resolutions you follow and which you don't," said Voht. In principle, a party conference resolution is binding for all levels of the party. There must now be a clear commitment to the party's clear decision on demarcation.