Söder declares fight against AfD and Die Linke
At the CSU party congress, the Bavarian premier opts for a hard line against both political flanks.
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CSU leader Markus Söder warned at the party congress in Munich that the traditional big-tent parties are under pressure. The CSU wants to rule out cooperation with both the AfD and Die Linke, and is also discussing a controversial proposal on funding for the federal states.
At the opening of the two-day congress, Söder said that Germany was, in his view, facing a severe political crisis. He announced a sharp confrontation with the AfD on the right and Die Linke on the left.
The CSU wants to reaffirm the existing ban on cooperation with both parties in a party resolution. This is in line with the CDU’s approach, but carries added significance because parts of Germany are debating cooperation with parties on the political fringes.
The congress is also considering a proposal to exclude federal states led by the AfD or Die Linke from financial support through the Länderfinanzausgleich. According to German media, constitutional law experts have questioned its feasibility.
Söder also warned that the federal government could lose its credibility if it tried to persuade voters with new borrowing. He argued for maintaining Germany’s debt brake.
The CSU is the Bavarian sister party of the CDU and is part of the same Unionsfraktion at federal level. A change of course by the CSU therefore affects nationwide conservative politics, even though formally this concerns a party congress in one federal state.
The development is relevant to the Netherlands because Germany is an important European partner and because the handling of radical-right parties is under discussion in several EU countries. Söder’s statements are primarily political positioning; the congress has not yet passed a new federal law.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The CSU is discussing a formal exclusion of cooperation with the AfD and Die Linke.
- Söder warned of pressure on traditional parties.
- A proposal concerning financial support for federal states is part of the discussion.
Left
Arguments Democratic protection against right-wing extremism requires a clear rejection of the AfD, but equating Die Linke with the AfD can obscure differences in ideology and risks.
Values Anti-fascism, social equality and the protection of pluralist institutions.
Consequences A hard-line exclusion policy can make cooperation at local level more difficult, but in this view prevents radical-right ideas from becoming normalised.
Centre
Arguments Parties must clearly define their boundaries while not placing democratic parties outside the parliamentary order without specific legal reasons. Financial sanctions against federal states warrant restraint.
Values Institutional stability, proportionality and administrative continuity.
Consequences A clear but limited demarcation can build confidence; excessive sanctions could damage federal relations.
Right
Arguments The CSU must win back voters by clearly distinguishing itself from radical parties without leaving their issues entirely to them. Fiscal discipline and strict conditions on solidarity between federal states are necessary for this.
Values Order, responsibility, national cohesion and financial discipline.
Consequences A hard line could give the Union electoral room, but there is a risk that voters will still turn to the AfD if the CSU fails to deliver tangible results.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
Reporting by German public broadcasters confirms the statements, the party congress and the proposed demarcation. Legal objections are presented as part of the debate, not as a definitive judgement.
- confirmed Söder spoke at the CSU congress in Munich on 23 October. — Confirmed by Tagesschau and Deutschlandfunk. source
- confirmed The CSU wants to rule out cooperation with the AfD and Die Linke. — Confirmed by BR24 and ARD. source
- confirmed The proposal concerning the Länderfinanzausgleich is legally controversial. — Tagesschau reports criticism from constitutional law experts. source