Kretschmer criticizes AfD strategy: “Mere exclusion achieves nothing”
Saxony's CDU Minister-President Michael Kretschmer warned that Germany's strategy of isolating the AfD fails to address policy failures driving its support, though he ruled out cooperation.
Michael Kretschmer, the CDU state leader, told Der Spiegel in an interview that the so-called firewall against the Alternative for Germany is burning through everywhere and merely delays rather than solves the fundamental crisis of public confidence, according to Nius.
The Saxon premier acknowledged that while preventing the AfD from gaining power and responsibility remains necessary, the exclusion strategy alone offers no real solution. Kretschmer emphasized that the critical challenge lies in restoring citizen trust in democracy and in the competence of mainstream politics to deliver results.
Many Germans have turned away from established parties because they no longer believe their concerns will be addressed, the CDU politician explained. This loss of faith stems directly from policy failures by the political establishment.
Kretschmer placed responsibility for the AfD’s rise squarely on the shoulders of traditional parties. He described the populist party’s electoral gains as the product of poor governance, with voters turning to the AfD out of frustration and a sense that they have lost all influence over political decisions that affect their lives.
Despite his criticism of the firewall strategy, the Saxony leader ruled out any cooperation with the AfD. He pointed to figures like Björn Höcke, whom he identified as a right-wing extremist with significant influence in the party, stating such individuals could never serve as coalition partners for the CDU.
The interview reveals growing tensions within Germany’s center-right over how to respond to the AfD’s continued strength in eastern states. Kretschmer’s position suggests that simply excluding the party from political dialogue while failing to address voter grievances will prove increasingly untenable as mainstream parties lose credibility.
His remarks come as the CDU nationally, now led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, faces pressure to demonstrate it can govern more effectively than previous coalitions while maintaining its refusal to work with the AfD at any level of government.
With information from Nius
