Merz sets limits for Wagenknecht

CDU leader Friedrich Merz has drawn clear boundaries for his party's talks with Sahra Wagenknecht's BSW about possible cooperation in Thuringia, Brandenburg and Saxony. "Ms. Wagenknecht has to accept that there are decisions that are irrevocable," said Merz on the ARD program "Caren Miosga". "That is the commitment to the West, that is Nato membership. And we won't let Ms Wagenknecht call that into question."

In the three federal states, the CDU is negotiating with the BSW after the recent state elections in order to form governments and leave the AfD out of the equation. However, Wagenknecht is making things difficult for the CDU - especially with foreign policy positions that are unacceptable from the CDU's point of view.

Merz hinted at possible compromises. For example, a preamble to the coalition agreement could include a call for peace negotiations. Regarding Wagenknecht's demand to exclude the deployment of US medium-range missiles, Merz said that these weapons would only be stationed in the west, but that the eastern federal states would not be affected at all. Overall, the Union Chancellor candidate reiterated: "We won't let Ms Wagenknecht pull us through the nose ring."