Central Council of Jews president warns CDU's 'firewall' against AfD may not hold, citing Saxony-Anhalt polls
Josef Schuster pointed to state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, where AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund is within a few percentage points of an absolute majority in polls.
The firewall warning
Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, has voiced deep concern that the CDU's so-called firewall against the AfD could collapse. In an interview with the "Main-Post" in Würzburg, Schuster said he fears the barrier will not hold. He pointed specifically to the political situation in Saxony-Anhalt, where AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund is polling only a few percentage points away from an absolute majority ahead of the state election.
I have the concern that it will not hold.
Schuster's warning comes as the AfD continues to post strong numbers in eastern German states, raising questions about how established parties will handle coalition arithmetic if the far-right party secures a dominant share of seats.
The 'pact with the devil' scenario
Schuster outlined a specific scenario that worries him: CDU parliamentarians might be willing to cooperate with the AfD simply to form a functioning government. He described such a move in stark terms.
My fear is that there may be CDU members of parliament who, for the sake of governing, could be prepared to make a pact with the devil.
Despite this concern at the state level, Schuster said he does not currently see a danger of the AfD entering government at the federal level. He expressed hope that the democratic centre parties will succeed in preventing that permanently.
Ban proceedings remain unlikely
On the question of a formal ban of the AfD, Schuster remains sceptical. He acknowledged a legal opinion by the Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (Society for Civil Rights) that concluded a ban application could indeed succeed. However, Schuster's primary worry is a failed attempt.
My greatest concern remains a ban application that fails, as happened with the NPD.
He added that he currently sees no majority for a party ban, making the legal route an unattractive gamble in his view.
Schuster's own future undecided
Schuster, 72, also addressed his personal political future. His current four-year term as president of the Central Council of Jews ends in late November, and he has not yet decided whether to stand for re-election. He said he still has the desire to continue, but cited family reasons weighing against another candidacy. A final decision remains pending.
