We are patriots and not nationalists
The CDU begins its campaign for the state elections in Saxony and Thuringia with party chairman Merz. Merz warns against the nationalism of the AfD and praises the CDU Thuringia leading candidate Voigt. He managed to make Hocke "take off his mask a little".
Before the state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, CDU Federal Chairman Friedrich Merz warned against the nationalism of the AfD. These elections are not only being observed in Germany, but throughout Europe, Merz said at the joint campaign kickoff of the Saxon and Thuringian state associations in Meerane, Saxony. It's about holding the country in the middle, Merz said.
"Conservative, liberal, social - everything correct, but not nationalistic. We are also patriots in the CDU", Merz said. But the difference is that patriots love their country and nationalists hate other countries. There are no compromises. Merz emphasized that there would be no cooperation with the AfD because of this.
Surveys predict a close race
He praised the Thuringian leading candidate Mario Voigt for going into the public discussion with Hocke and "making him take off his mask a little". "You deserve the greatest respect and thanks for that", Merz said. Hocke then had problems within his own ranks because he was too soft, too weak, and too friendly in the discussion with Voigt.
Merz, along with Saxon Minister President Michael Kretschmer and Thuringian State Chairman Mario Voigt, opened the campaign of the state associations Saxony and Thuringia on Thursday evening. State elections will take place there on September 1.
According to an Infratest survey, the party was last at 29 percent in Saxony, just behind the AfD (30 percent). In Thuringia, the CDU came in second place in an Insa survey from the end of June with 22 percent, just ahead of the BSW (20 percent).
During the joint campaign kickoff in Meerane, Merz criticized the AfD's nationalistic views, stating that the CDU is patriotic but not nationalistic. He commended Voigt for challenging Björn Höcke, calling it a commendable act that made Höcke reveal a softer side. The upcoming Saxony and Thuringia state elections have sparked interest not only in Germany but also in Europe, and surveys predict a tight race between the CDU and the AfD in Saxony.
