Alexander Gauland, Honorary Chairman of the AfD, views Friedrich Merz’s CDU as the main opponent ahead of the federal election in February.
Speaking at an AfD Brandenburg state party conference, Gauland said, “The traffic lights will no longer exist either way in the future, but black-green is unfortunately still a realistic chance.” He added, “Therefore, we should keep in mind who we owe most of the misery to: Angela Merkel and thus the CDU.”
Gauland also criticized Merz’s stance on the Ukraine war, claiming, “Merz will do even more than (SPD Chancellor) Scholz for this war, which is not our war, to move closer to us.”
After serving two terms, Gauland confirmed he would no longer run as the AfD’s top candidate in Brandenburg. However, he hinted at a potential candidacy in Saxony, saying, “This is an offer from Chemnitz, from my hometown.”
The AfD co-founder didn’t spare his criticism for former head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, who is now seeking a CDU seat in Wuppertal. Gauland fired back, “What we have to think of this domestic secret service has just become clear again, with Mr. Haldenwang being unbroken by the supposedly objective official in the role of political competitor to AfD.”
