Germany former Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized her own party leader for applying for a parliament with the support of the extremely right alternative to Germany (AFD).
In a statement, Merkel accused the CDU leader Friedrich Merz of turning his back on the previous pledge of not working with AFD at Bundestag.
Parliament lowered to Heckles on Wednesday After the voices of the extreme right-wing party meant that a non-binding CDU proposal on stricter immigration rules was issued.
This is a very unusual intervention of a woman who led Germany for 16 years, entering the criticism of the shop of her former political rival.
Merz, which is intended for the next chancellor of Germany because of the CDU leadership at the polling station, said on Wednesday that politics is not wrong just because “the wrong people are back” and that he did not ask or wanted AFD’s support.
But Merkel accused him of breaking the pledge he had given in November of working with the Social Democratic Party and Green to bring legislation, not AFD.
This was to be provided “either in determining the agenda or voting on the matter here in the house, they will not be random or actually brought most of those from AFD” Read a quote from Merz in Merkel’s statement.
The former chancellor said she fully supported this earlier “expression of great state political responsibility.”
“I think it is wrong that it is no longer felt related to this proposal and thus consciously allows AFD to get a majority in voting in the German Bundestag on January 29. January 2025.”
She said that “all the democratic parties” had to work together “to do everything they could to prevent such terrible attacks in the future as those who took place shortly before Christmas in Magdeburg and a few days ago in Aschaffenburg.”
This is a rare Merkel intervention.
Openly to criticize the candidate of his own chancellor – just a few weeks out of choice – a big move and will add a rocket fuel to an already explosive story in German politics.
Merkel and Merz come back far – not as best friends.
Merkel celebrated him famously in the early 2000s after winning the fight for the CDU authorities.
Merz would leave the front policy for many years before returning.
Since then, he has criticized Merkel’s legacy – especially her treatment of a migration crisis.
They also have a very different vision for the party, and Merkel was seen as a more pragmatic center and merz from the traditional, conservative wing of the CDU.
The vote on Wednesday has spoiled a longtime taboo in German politics – and Merz should also propose a legislation on Friday that AFD could support.
The current German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, called the move a “unforgivable mistake.”
“Since the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany more than 75 years ago, there has always been a clear consensus among all the democrats in our parliaments: we do not create the usual thing with the extreme right of the right color,” he said.
