Many politicians from the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are backing party leader Friedrich Merz and criticizing former Chancellor Angela Merkel for her criticism of Merz.
Among CDU politicians, the prevailing opinion is that Merkel should have stayed silent instead of criticizing her successor’s approach at the party’s helm.
“The line chosen by the CDU and Friedrich Merz is the right one. We need a fundamental change in migration policy. If we don’t solve this issue from the political center, others will, but not in our common interest,” stated the Prime Minister of Hesse, Boris Rhein.
Eckhardt Rehberg, a close ally of Merkel and former CDU leader in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, said: “As a former chancellor, she should have simply kept quiet. You don’t do that, you remain silent as a former chancellor.”
Jan Redmann, CDU leader in Brandenburg, remarked: “Ms. Merkel is entitled to her opinion, but good form is public silence after leaving office. She should have adhered to that.”
The leader of the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD), Alice Weidel, also attacked former Chancellor Merkel, who had criticized Merz for voting alongside the right-wing.
To recall, on Wednesday, January 29, the Bundestag narrowly supported a plan proposed by the CDU/CSU conservatives to strengthen migration controls.
The vote marked a turning point as the initiative was approved with the support of the right-wing AfD. This essentially broke a long-standing consensus among German political parties to avoid collaboration with the right-wng.
At the same time, AfD members celebrated the precedent, calling it the beginning of a “new era.”
