AI-generated summary
In 2018, the CDU passed an incompatibility resolution at a federal party conference that ruled out coalitions and similar forms of cooperation with the AfD and the Left. Since then, the CDU in Cologne has withdrawn its own proposals in the city council, fearing that the AfD might agree to them.
The CDU district chairwoman in Cologne, State Minister Serap Güler, has announced a different approach to the AfD in the local city council. "There is a difference between cooperation and suicide out of fear of death. Withdrawing your own applications because the AfD might agree to them is the latter," she told the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger". “As the CDU Cologne, we will therefore no longer restrict ourselves here and will accept our own applications in the city council because of this fear.
Güler, who is Minister of State in the Foreign Office, explained: "We will never agree to an AfD proposal. We are worlds apart, whether it is about the economy, the EU, social affairs, education or family. But on the other hand, we will no longer withdraw our own ideas." When asked whether this was not the beginning of the end of the “firewall” against the AfD, she replied: “Our incompatibility resolution says “no cooperation” and not “renunciation of your own ideas.” So no, this is not a change of course.”
The CDU made the incompatibility decision at a federal party conference in 2018. “Since then, the AfD has not become more moderate, but rather the opposite is the case,” said Güler. The federal party conference had decided at the time that “coalitions and similar forms of cooperation” with either the AfD or the Left were out of the question.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The CDU Cologne will submit its own motions in the next city council meetings that would have previously been withdrawn.
Very likely · Within weeks
In some cases, the AfD will give its consent to CDU proposals if they agree with their own positions.
Possible · Within months

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