Parties analyze election results - debate about firewall

The electoral success of the AfD in the federal elections in eastern Germany has reignited the debate about the firewall against this party. Under the catchphrase "firewall", other parties are ruling out cooperation with the AfD, parts of which have been classified as right-wing extremist by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. However, some are now questioning whether coalitions are still possible in the future without the AfD, especially in eastern Germany.

Saxon AfD urges demolition of the firewall

The Saxon AfD is continuing to push for the demolition of the firewall following its clear success in the state. It is not a question of the AfD having to make itself look pretty for the CDU, AfD party leader Jörg Urban made clear with confidence. "The CDU must finally become a conservative party again so that it can even form a coalition with us." They are now almost twice as strong as the CDU and need to work on themselves.

Urban accused the CDU leadership of sticking to the red-green camp. The base of the CDU/CSU already ticked differently and had to make it clear to its leadership that things could not go on like this. "People increasingly want drastic political change in Germany." The CDU can no longer satisfy this desire for change. The AfD achieved 37.3 percent of the second votes in Saxony and clearly distanced itself from the CDU (19.7 percent).

CDU continues to categorically rule out cooperation with AfD

CDU General Secretary Tom Unger categorically ruled out cooperation with the AfD. "The AfD aims to destroy and annihilate the CDU. As the party of Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl, we stand for ties to the West, for NATO membership, for the European idea, for the European Union. These are all points that the AfD rejects, and that is not compatible with the core DNA of the CDU/CSU."

Greens call on CDU/CSU to stand firm on firewall

According to the Greens, many people in Saxony are concerned about whether the CDU will stick to its statement. "What I can only say at this point is that the CDU would be well advised to rebuild this firewall, both at federal level and here in Saxony," emphasized party chairwoman Marie Müser. After all, a lot of trust has already been lost and there is a great danger in involving the AfD in political processes. The CDU must remain steadfast.

Left and SPD want to take the CDU at its word

The Left and Social Democrats do not want to doubt the distance to the AfD that Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) has maintained to date. "We still take the Prime Minister at his word, and should we realize that this no longer applies or that something will change in this policy in the future, we will react accordingly," said Left Party leader Susanne Schaper.