Berlin's ex-CDU Senator Kurth will not become an AFD member

Parties - Berlin's ex-CDU Senator Kurth will not become an AfD member

Former Berlin CDU Finance Senator Peter Kurth stated that he will not join the AfD, despite having contacts with the party. "I am, was, and will be no member of the AfD", Kurth told the German Press Agency. "I have closed my political career plan. I have had no relevant political functions for many years." Regarding criticism of his contacts in extreme right-wing circles, Kurth said: "I will not as a private person prohibit myself from talking to whom I want. I know where I draw the line."

The ex-senator attended the AfD Brandenburg's campaign kickoff in Werder (Havel) on Friday. The AfD Brandenburg is considered a suspected right-wing extremist organization by the state's Constitutional Protection Agency. Brandenburg's AfD state chairman René Springer expressed regret that Kurth did not want to join the party but respected his decision.

Personal Contacts with AfD Members

Last summer, a gathering of radical right-wing individuals took place in Kurth's apartment. AfD European MP Maximilian Krah presented his book "Politics from the Right" at the event. Right-wing activist Martin Sellner and the Berlin AfD party and faction leader, Kristin Brinker, were also present. Kurth wrote to "Spiegel" in January that he did not know all participants at the event in his apartment but was "personally friends with several members of the AfD."

Kurth knows Brandenburg AfD candidate Hans-Christoph Berndt from his time as a faculty representative at the Berlin Charité. The Charité Supervisory Board distanced itself from "hate speech" from Berndt in 2016. Kurth had to resign as president of the Federal Association of the Waste Industry (BDE) in January, shortly before the end of his term, due to his contacts with right-wing circles becoming public. In Werder, Kurth followed Berndt's speech and carried an AfD campaign flag.

Kurth was to become a CDU member in Brandenburg

The ex-senator stated that he left the CDU last year, after which CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann asked him to stay and become a CDU member in Märkisch-Oderland. In the Brandenburger district, he owns a second home. According to his statements, he received confirmation of the transferred membership and paid the fee.

Kreischairwoman Kristy Augustin of the dpa stated that Kurth was never accepted as a member by the Kreisvorstand. "The transfer was not valid, as it was discovered that he had resigned from the CDU in Berlin," Augustin said. This information came to light through media reports. There is also no new application for membership.

From 1999 to 2001, Kurth was Berlin's Finance Senator, from 2001 to 2006, he sat in the Berlin House of Representatives. In 2009, he failed as a CDU candidate in the election for Mayor of Cologne. Since 2008, he led the Waste Industry Association BDE, which separated from him in January. Berlin's governing Mayor and CDU state chairman Kai Wegner expressed shock and sadness over Kurth's development in January.

The Brandenburger AfD aims to be the strongest force in the Landtag election in September and to take over the government with a "policy for the Germans." "It's time that we free the middle of society from the hostage situation of the ruling parties," Springer said at the campaign start in Werder. Spitzenkandidat Berndt demonstrated solidarity with the banned "Compact" magazine from Falkensee and with other organizations that the Constitutional Protection Agency has classified as right-wing extremist. "We stand with Compact," Berndt said. The AfD leads in polls in Brandenburg.

Despite having contacts with the AfD, former Berlin CDU Finance Senator Peter Kurth declared he will not join the party.
Kurth attended the AfD Brandenburg's campaign kickoff in Werder (Havel), where AfD Brandenburg state chairman René Springer expressed regret about his decision.
Last summer, Maximilian Krah, AfD European MP, presented his book "Politics from the Right" at a gathering in Kurth's apartment, attended by right-wing activist Martin Sellner and Berlin AfD party leader Kristin Brinker.
Kurth knew Brandenburg AfD candidate Hans-Christoph Berndt from his time as a faculty representative at the Berlin Charité, and the Charité Supervisory Board distanced itself from Berndt's "hate speech" in 2016.
Kurth was to become a CDU member in Brandenburg after resigning from the CDU in Berlin, but Kreischairwoman Kristy Augustin of the dpa stated that Kurth was never accepted as a member by the Kreisvorstand.
The AfD aims to be the strongest force in the Landtag election in September and take over the government with a "policy for the Germans," as stated by Spitzenkandidat Berndt in Werder.
Berlin's Finance Senator from 1999 to 2001, Kurth later served in the Berlin House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 and attempted to become Mayor of Cologne in 2009.
In 2008, Kurth led the Waste Industry Association BDE, but he was separated from the organization in January due to his contacts with right-wing circles becoming public.