CDU labor wing leader Dennis Radtke rejects any talks with AfD

Dennis Radtke, federal chairman of the CDU's workers' wing (CDA), said that there will be no discussions with the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD). He argued that the AfD must first distance itself from extremist and pro‑Russian positions and fundamentally change its political DNA before any cooperation could be considered.

Radtke’s comments responded to former finance minister Peer Steinbrück’s proposal that parties set “red lines” and be willing to engage with the AfD if those limits are respected. He described the so‑called “firewall” (Brandmauer) as a protective boundary for the democratic centre, not a permanent tool, and warned that the AfD’s agenda resembles that of parties like France’s National Rally, seeking a different system, country, and Europe. He stressed that credibility and close contact with citizens are essential in the fight against extremism.