Merz links future as party leader with firewall against the AfD

Austria could see a government led by the right-wing populist FPÖ for the first time. Referring to the situation in the neighboring country, the Union’s candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has categorically ruled out any collaboration with the AfD. Austria is “proof that you cannot pave the way to power for right-wing populists,” said the CDU leader on Friday evening in the ARD “Tagesthemen”. He will not allow the “firewall” in the CDU to fall to the AfD.

The reasons are clear and obvious. “We do not work with a party that is xenophobic, that is anti-Semitic, that has right-wing radicals in its ranks, that has criminals in its ranks, a party that is flirting with Russia and wants to leave NATO and the European Union,” said he said on the sidelines of a meeting of the CDU federal executive board in Hamburg with a view to the AfD, which is partly considered to be right-wing extremist.

The 69-year-old continued: “If we were to do that, we would be selling the soul of the CDU.” He had no intention of doing so. He stands by his word as Friedrich Merz and party leader. When asked whether he could keep this promise, Merz replied: “I tie my fate as party leader of the CDU to this answer.”

Austria shows what happens “when you think you have to domesticate such a group, such a party, or bring them to reason somewhere through such government participation,” said Merz. “No, we don’t bring them to their senses, they only make them stronger.”

Merz then described a scenario if cooperation with the AfD was not categorically ruled out, drawing a parallel to the National Socialists’ seizure of power in 1933: “In 2029 they will be the strongest faction, the next federal election is in 2033,” said the CDU leader. “Once 33 is enough in Germany.”

The right-wing populist FPÖ became the strongest force in the Austrian parliament for the first time in the parliamentary elections in September.

After coalition talks between the conservative ÖVP, the social democratic SPÖ and the liberal Neos failed, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl was the first party representative to be tasked with forming a government. The conservative ÖVP agreed to coalition negotiations.