After Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won multiple seats in federal elections on Sunday, party leader Friedrich Merz has rallied with the country’s socialist party, not the right-wing populist party. He said he would pursue it.

The CDU forms a coalition with another party before Mertz ruled, except for an absolute majority of 316 seats, comparable to the absolute majority of the 316 seats needed to secure Mertz’s prime minister. It means you have to do it. At a celebration at the party’s headquarters on Monday, CDU leaders confirmed they would pursue a coalition with the Left Social Democrats (SPD), which came in third in 120 seats. The 152 seats have more than doubled since Germany’s 2021 election. (Related: EU regulators attacking X for ELON MUSK’s political position)

“We have received a clear governing mission and we will accept it,” said the German-speaking Mertz. “If we look at the distribution of bande tag sheets, we are in a position to form a black-red coalition, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do.” This black, well known as the “Grand Coalition,” is The Red Union is often seen in German parliamentary politics, and this model controls the country when Angela Merkel was Chancellor.

かったんとかないます https://t.co/5qdpjghzqh

– Friedrich Merz (@_friedrichmerz) February 24, 2025

Emphasizing the urgency of forming the coalition, Mertz said he plans to meet with SPD leaders, including resigning Prime Minister Olaf Scholz, to negotiate the coalition in the coming days. He added that he hopes to form a government by Easter.

A new CDU-SPD Alliance and AFD exclusion was expected. Essentially, the entire political establishment of Germany has exacerbated the AFD as a dangerous and radical organization since its establishment in 2013. Classification The party was a “substantiated incident of right-wing extremism” in 2022. The government has repeatedly confirmed the constitutional law by using this designation to justify the ongoing surveillance of party members and their private responses.

Merz is a proponent of the “far-right firewall” strategy in German politics, and is a practice among mainstream parties that view cooperation with the AFD as a serious moral failure. He routinely characterizes the party as a Nazi successor, calling the AFD “openly national socialist” in 2018 Interview At WDR 5, a German public radio station.

“The Eastern Regional Associations in particular have received a transparent message from us. If anyone of us raises their hands to work with AFD, the next day there is a party expulsion process.” I said In a statement just before he became a CDU leader in 2022. He repeated this position in January Interview Together with German television station Tagesthemen, he says “connection.” [his] His fate as party chair to prevent cooperation with the AFD.

AFD leaders refused to compare it to the Nazi Party, and former leader Alexander Goround called the Nazi era “a patch of bird droppings in more than a thousand years of successful German history” in 2018. I’m here. speech – A stance intended to reject what they consider to be excessive historical guilt.

Although initially focused on euro skepticism, the AFD shifted to emphasize a mix of populist and nationalist positions opposed immigration from mostly Muslim majority countries. that phone It is stricter border control, immediate deportation of denied asylum seekers, and most controversial is the policy of the “federal”; This is a term used to defend European rights to deem immigrants a massive deportation, and even naturalized citizens, as inadequately assimilated.

AFD’s Friendly temperament Towards Russia, Opposition To Ukraine and military assistance for it Calling for a resurrection The Nord Stream II pipeline is also a major competition for more established German parties.

“We must now implement a massive repatriation, if it’s called an “order,” even if it is,” AFD leader Alice Weidel said in January’s campaign event. He spoke in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftrrruab6qg

After the 2015 refugee crisis, when Germany accepted over 1 million immigrants under Merkel’s leadership, AFD’s immigration stance first gained traction. The foreign-born population has been on a consistent upward trajectory since that year, nearly doubled over this period, nearly doubling the record 19.6% (over 16.5 million). According to Go to German census data.

Merz campaigned mainly on the Pronat, the Pro-European Union (EU) platform, which advocates for German independence. The US says by easing the taboos on nuclear power, he will increase Germany’s reliance on Russia and America’s energy. He also aims to increase defense spending amid a tense relationship with President Donald Trump. (Related: Germany closes its last nuclear power plant amid warning of a new energy crisis)

“My absolute priority is to strengthen Europe as soon as possible, so in stages we can truly achieve independence from America,” Meltz said Sunday in post-election debate. Ta. “I didn’t think I had to say something like this on TV, but after last week’s Donald Trump statement, it was pretty much indifferent to this administration, at least this part of the Americans. It is clear: the fate of Europe.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbhiowra4ra

The waiting prime minister has increased anti-immigrant rhetoric after recent violent attacks that permeated immigrants – including a January knife attack in Asshafenburg that killed infants and men – from AFD Amidst political pressure, Mertz stopped supporting the ligiant. Crime statistics show that in 2023, more than 40% of German suspects were foreign-born. According to To Tagesthemen.

Since President Trump took office, US relations have deteriorated, particularly after his allies’ invasion of German politics. Vice President JD Vance criticized Germany’s online speech policing as “Orwell” during the Munich Security Conference. speech February 14th. German leaders have denounced Elon Musk’s support of AFD.

AFD is Germany’s only hope https://t.co/ce9uxe8ulm

– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025

Mertz’s political career began after the election to the European Parliament in 1989, then moved to serve as a federal parliament in 1994, a member of Germany’s lower parliament, and was appointed CDU leader in 2021. I served until then.

He previously chaired the German branch of BlackRock, an American asset management company that was accused of contributing to rising US detached home prices. Merz, who owns two private jets, described himself as “upper class” in 2018 Interview With Build, a German tabloid.

He added in his victory speech on Monday that former CDU prime minister and Merkel, Merkel, the longtime political rival of Merkel, had yet to congratulate the plurality of his election. Despite the surge in support on Sunday, there are no signs left that Mertz, or the leading German party leader, will ease his “firewall” policy against the AFD.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan newswire service that is free to use for legitimate news publishers that can provide large audiences. All republished articles must include logos, reporter signatures and DCNF affiliation. For questions regarding our guidelines or partnerships with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.