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German chancellor vows ‘No Cooperation’ with Far-Right AfD party
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed on Saturday that his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) will not cooperate in any form with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), as internal discussions continue within the party about its stance ahead of key state elections in 2026.
Speaking at the CDU youth congress in Rust, Merz stressed that the ideological distance between the two parties is insurmountable. “There will be no cooperation with the AfD from the CDU/CSU. We are worlds apart. We share absolutely nothing with them,” he declared.
Merz also called on the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the CDU’s junior coalition partner, to intensify efforts to counter the AfD’s growing influence. He noted that the SPD has been losing significant numbers of voters to the far-right party in recent elections.
The AfD, currently the largest opposition force in the Bundestag, continues to surge in eastern Germany, polling near 40% in some states. This rise has fueled debate within the CDU about how to address the AfD’s expanding electoral footprint. Merz’s latest comments aim to draw a clear line as the party prepares for next year’s regional votes.