Weber urges EU conservatives to abandon binary stance on AfD
Manfred Weber, leader of the European People's Party, says conservatives must move beyond a simple "us versus them" approach to the AfD and focus on substantive debate.
In an interview, Manfred Weber argues that German conservatives should stop treating the AfD solely as a rejection target and instead engage in detailed policy disputes. He calls for greater courage in promoting a European vision and cites lessons from recent experiences in Sachsen-Anhalt. Weber stresses that current conditions do not allow for cooperation with the AfD and recommends seeking alternative strategies.
Why it matters
The stance could reshape how mainstream conservatives confront far-right forces in Germany and the EU.
How this story developed
- Sep 23 Heidenau city council will vote on a motion, supported by CDU and AfD members, to reject two proposed Stolpersteine for Fritz and Martha Goldstein and instead favor a collective memorial at the Nordfriedhof.
- Sep 24 Merz faces mounting pressure after the regional setbacks.
- Sep 24 The Israeli ambassador warned of an “immediate existential threat” to Berlin’s Jewish community over alleged antisemitism in the party.
- Sep 24 The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance pledged support for the AfD’s speaker nominee, creating a parliamentary majority for the AfD in Saxony‑Anhalt.
- Sep 27 The council has scheduled a vote on the proposed ban.
- Sep 27 SPD and Greens issued a joint warning demanding Die Linke reject antisemitism and clan crime before coalition talks proceed.
- Sep 29 AfD parliamentary group chair Ulrich Siegmund said he will stand for the Minister-President post in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament in December.
- Oct 3 Historian Brendan Simms warned that the return of great‑power competition is reshaping security and challenging Swiss defence.
- Oct 3 Tobias Rausch was elected speaker of the Landtag.
- Oct 3 AfD now ahead of the Union in the latest INSA Sunday poll, widening the gap.
- Oct 5 The council moved from debating the proposal to formally approving the resolution that declines new Stolpersteine applications.
- Oct 7 A secret ballot produced undisclosed extra votes, prompting CDU leaders to demand an investigation.
In this story
Related stories
55 in this thread