Bavaria’s Minister-President Markus Söder has issued a clear warning about the growing popularity of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).
Speaking at the traditional Gillamoos festival in Abensberg, Lower Bavaria, the CSU leader strongly rejected the idea of the far-right party playing any role in governing Germany.
“Let us not fall for their promises. Let us not allow our country to be destroyed. I say clearly today: no to an AfD takeover of Germany and Bavaria,” Söder declared to the crowd.
A fragile sense of freedom in Germany
According to Söder, the current political climate is more precarious than it has been in decades.
He acknowledged that some voters may find certain AfD policy points superficially similar to those of mainstream parties, but he stressed that the mindset within the AfD is fundamentally different.
“There are right-wing extremists in key positions, people who write ‘Heil Hitler’ in books, and members who have acted as spies for foreign powers like Russia and China,” he stated.
Security services on alert
Söder reminded the audience that a significant number of AfD members are under surveillance by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz).
This, he argued, is proof that the party poses a real danger to democratic values.
“The AfD’s true goal is to divide society, to weaken our institutions, and to reshape democracy into something unrecognizable,” he warned.
Strategic positioning ahead of upcoming elections
The CSU leader’s remarks come against the backdrop of consistently high polling numbers for the AfD across Germany.
While the party has gained traction particularly in eastern states, its influence has been growing nationwide.
Söder’s intervention reflects growing concern within mainstream conservative ranks that voter frustration could translate into significant political gains for the far-right.
A call for unity in defense of democracy
In closing, Söder emphasized the importance of protecting democratic values and resisting extremist tendencies. He urged citizens not to underestimate the risks of normalizing the AfD.
“Freedom in Germany has never been as fragile as it is today. We must defend our democracy together – and not allow division to triumph,” he concluded.
