Former SPD Leader Schulz Rejects Issue-Based Talks with AfD

Former German Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader Martin Schulz has spoken out against any cooperation or issue-based negotiations with the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD). Speaking to the newspaper Welt am Sonntag, the 70-year-old politician characterized the political firewall separating democratic parties from the AfD as a constitutional necessity rather than a moral stance.

Schulz argued that the AfD asserts an exclusive right to represent the public, describing this stance as an authoritarian position that fundamentally undermines the foundations of the federal republic. According to Schulz, taking on government responsibility would not moderate the party, distinguishing the AfD from other right-wing parties across Europe. He named prominent party leaders Alice Weidel and Björn Höcke as figures who reject political compromise, claiming that no leading representatives of the party act out of genuine concern for the state.

With the AfD currently holding between 20 and 25 percent of public support in polls, Schulz warned against ignoring the party or its voters, arguing that such a strategy would only further boost its appeal. To counter the party's rise, he urged greater investment in local state services, specifically naming schools, daycares, care facilities, and public transportation as vital areas for restoring public confidence in state administration. He also acknowledged that the SPD itself has lost connection with portions of its traditional voter base in recent years.

In his assessment, the entry of the AfD into legislative bodies has led to a noticeable decline in the tone of political debate, attributing this shift to a strategy of calculated disrespect. Despite ongoing policy disputes between the center-right CDU/CSU union and the SPD, Schulz defended political cooperation between the traditional major parties. He emphasized that continued collaboration between the mainstream blocs remains vital to prevent the AfD from securing a position in regional or federal governments.

Schulz presided over the European Parliament from 2012 to 2017 before leading the SPD into the 2017 federal election against then-Chancellor Angela Merkel. Following the election result of 20.5 percent for the Social Democrats, he resigned from the party chairmanship in 2018. Since December 2020, Schulz has served as the chairman of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, an institution affiliated with the SPD.

Written by Thorben Thiede thorben.thiede@alpineweekly.com