Scholz rejects any cooperation with the German far right

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected any form of cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party at the local, state, or national level.

This was reported by the DPA news agency.

"There can and should be no cooperation with this party," Scholz said in an article published on Friday in the Thüringer Allgemeine newspaper.

"I also see no reason for cooperation in municipalities... Anyone who wants a kindergarten built can put forward such a proposal. He does not need an extreme right-wing party to do so," he added.

His comments come after a recent television interview with Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, who suggested that the CDU might cooperate with the AfD in local politics.

In an interview with the German public broadcaster ZDF, Merz said that his party should recognize the AfD's success in the elections, but added that in local parliaments, we should look for ways to jointly shape the city, state, and district.

Author - Olena Madiak, 13/08/2023