Demonstrations in Germany against the AfD party as the leader of the CDU party insisted that his party won’t cooperate with the right-wing populist party

The German opposition candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has reiterated his strong rejection of any cooperation with the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany party.
“Let me repeat it here for the record: There will be no cooperation under my leadership with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the AfD,” Merz said.
The leader of the Christian Democratic Party attributed this to clear reasons, saying, “We’ll not cooperate with a party that is anti-foreigner and anti-Semitic and includes in its ranks right-wing extremists and criminals… It’s a party that flirts with Russia and wants to leave NATO and the European Union”.
Asked about any move to cooperate with the Alternative for Germany party, which is classified as extremist in some German states, Merz said, “If we did that, we would be selling the soul of the Christian Democratic Party”.
When asked if he could fulfill this promise, Merz replied: “Yes, I will fulfill it… I tie my fate as leader of the Christian Democratic Party to this answer”.
Together with its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, the CDU forms what is known as the Christian Union, with Merz also leading the Union bloc in the Bundestag, as the early general elections are scheduled for February 23 in Germany.
It’s worth noting that the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (German domestic intelligence) monitors the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist organization.
Merz’s reference to criminals in the party may have been directed at the AfD’s regional leader in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, a far-right extremist known in the country for his controversial statements.
He has twice been convicted in court for repeating banned Nazi slogans in speeches.
Merz’s comments coincided with two days of protests organized by a coalition of activists ahead of the AfD’s conference in the eastern city of Riesa in the state of Saxony.
The AfD intends to adopt its election manifesto in Riesa and officially nominate party leader Alice Weidel to run for chancellor.
Saxony is one of the strongholds of the Alternative for Germany party, where it won 24.6% of the vote in the last regional elections.
Organizers expect more than 10,000 people to take part in the demonstrations against the AfD, with organizers reporting that participants are expected to arrive from around 70 cities in more than 100 buses.
Protesters also intend to block access roads and entrances to the conference venue.
While the situation remained calm in the morning, security authorities expect violent protesters, which prompted them to set up a checkpoint inside the city, which is located about 130 kilometers south of Berlin.
Police said protesters were being directed to reported gathering points, while reports said the police operation was being coordinated with a helicopter over the city.
The police are also using drones and are supported by forces from several German states.