AfD wins its first success in the district council – what does that mean for the CDU?

AfD wins its first success in the district council – what does that mean for the CDU?

There was a remarkable incident in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district council: an AfD proposal to build the Wolgast bypass was not only heard, but also supported by the CDU parliamentary group. This represents a significant turning point in the political landscape that has surprised many observers. Loud Baltic Sea newspaper The application represented a call to the district administrator to work for the timely further construction of the new Usedom access road. A project that has repeatedly appeared on the political agenda in recent years, but is now gaining momentum with new, unexpected majorities.

What is behind this application? The costs for the transport project have now risen to around half a billion euros, although the state and federal governments are still arguing about who will ultimately shoulder the financial burden. Nevertheless, the approval in the district council, although symbolic in nature, was a sign of the AfD's growing acceptance in the region's political discourse. So noticed Northern Courier that the CDU parliamentary group leader Jeanette von Busse emphasized the importance of taking citizens' concerns seriously compared to the actual challenges surrounding transport connections.

Political change or emergency solution?

The political scientist Prof. Jochen Müller also commented on the CDU's surprising reaction and called the strategic decision difficult to understand. In fact, the district administrators in Western Pomerania have positioned themselves against the strict “firewall” that previously implied a demarcation from the AfD. A rethink seems to be taking place, as SPD representative Erik von Malottki noted that there has always been a certain level of cooperation between the two factions in the district council. This could indicate an unexpected normalization of relations.

The political situation is further illuminated by current surveys. The AfD has established itself as the strongest force in the country with 38 percent, overtaking the CDU, which only has 13 percent Northern Courier reported. These developments have also fueled discussion within the CDU, with calls for an easing of the confrontation with the AfD. Although CDU leader Friedrich Merz has announced that he will “halve” the AfD, this strategy may need to be reconsidered in order to slow the AfD’s continued rise. Some prominent CDU politicians are already calling for more leeway in dealing with the right-wing populist party.

Looking into the future

The debate about the CDU's political direction is currently still in full swing. Daniel Peters, the CDU state leader in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, remains on track with Merz's decision, but is cautious about demonizing the AfD. Given the current political situation, it is clear: the coming elections could be groundbreaking for the future of all parties involved.

The developments in the district council show that the exchange between the parliamentary groups will remain a central topic in the future. In such a politically charged environment, the potential for change is great.