Chrupalla Advocates for Conservative Coalition Excluding Merz

Following the AfD's support for a CDU/CSU proposal in the Bundestag, party leader Tino Chrupalla has expressed the party's willingness to engage in a conservative-black coalition, albeit without Friedrich Merz at the helm. Chrupalla articulated that the AfD is open to collaborating with any party that prioritizes the well-being of Germany, emphasizing that this stance has been consistent for the party.

However, Chrupalla made it clear that any coalition would be contingent on whether Merz leads. He criticized Merz, stating that cooperation would be challenging with someone who has disparaged the AfD. According to Chrupalla, Merz represents outdated politics, comparing him to Joe Biden and suggesting that his political influence in Germany is waning.

In a related context, North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst urged for a coalition among centrist democratic parties following the AfD's recent support for a migration policy amendment proposed by the Union. Wüst characterized the AfD as a party with harmful ideologies, including elements of racism and anti-European sentiment. He strongly advocated that the pressing issues of the time should be addressed by the democratic center, rather than allowing the far-right to dominate the narrative.

The Union's proposal, backed by AfD votes, aimed at tightening migration policies and was approved by the Bundestag with support from the AfD, FDP, and some independent members. This marked the first instance where the AfD contributed to a majority in the Bundestag, although the proposal itself is non-binding.

Wüst refrained from directly mentioning the vote but made clear his position, promoting a Schwarz-Grün alliance as a necessary step to counter the far-right. He pointed to the collaborative approach taken by the CDU and the Greens in response to a recent violent incident in Solingen that resulted in multiple fatalities, emphasizing the need for a strong middle-ground coalition.

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel also voiced her disapproval of the Union's strategy, which involved seeking support from the AfD. Merkel described this approach as detrimental, stating that it is inappropriate to rely on AfD votes in such parliamentary decisions. She called for a return to collaborative efforts among all democratic parties to address serious national challenges, urging discussions to be conducted respectfully and grounded in existing European laws.

The Bundestag is set to vote on the Union's proposed migration law soon, with indications that both the FDP and AfD may again back the legislation. However, the likelihood of its approval is uncertain, given anticipated resistance from the SPD and Greens in the Bundesrat, as well as dissenting voices within the CDU itself.

Legal experts have raised concerns regarding potential violations of European law stemming from the proposed legislation. There are fears that this could lead to legal action against Germany at the European Court of Justice if the Unions' measures are implemented contrary to European regulations.