Özdemir Slams CDU-SPD Coalition as “AfD Support Program

In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, as Nius reports, the Green Party politician took aim at the disorganized messaging from the Union and SPD, accusing them of running what he called an “AfD support program” that has been playing out in Berlin for years.

Özdemir demanded an immediate end to the practice of coalition parties publicly contradicting one another. He described as unacceptable the pattern where first the SPD floats proposals, then the CDU responds, followed by the CSU weighing in separately. Governments must present a unified front to the public whenever possible, he argued, insisting that internal negotiations should remain behind closed doors. What happens in the kitchen stays in the kitchen, he said, adding that citizens don’t need a live broadcast of coalition squabbles.

The Minister President also called for greater self-reflection across the political establishment regarding the AfD’s electoral success. On migration in particular, Özdemir urged politicians not to downplay issues that citizens perceive as problematic, citing public festivals, train stations, and swimming pools as examples of venues where concerns have arisen.

Özdemir did not exempt his own party from criticism, acknowledging that certain formulations on migration policy from the Greens had likely not been helpful. He emphasized that politics has too often steamrolled over people’s fears and concerns in recent years, and that lecturing voters is insufficient.

While categorically ruling out any cooperation with the AfD, Özdemir noted that not every AfD voter holds a uniformly right-wing extremist worldview, suggesting a more nuanced understanding is needed to win back disillusioned citizens.

With information from Nius