Editorial & Advertiser disclosure

Global Banking & Finance Review® is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.

Germany's Merz says his conservatives will not partner with far-right AfD

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®

Posted on February 20, 2026

2 min read

Last updated: February 20, 2026

Germany's Merz says his conservatives will not partner with far-right AfD - Headlines news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review

Tags:Economy

Quick Summary

At a CDU conference in Stuttgart on Feb. 20, Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruled out any partnership with the far-right AfD. He vowed to uphold the firewall as mainstream parties maintain their no‑coalition stance.

Merz Rules Out CDU Partnership with Far‑Right AfD, Vows Tough Fight

CDU’s Stance on AfD and Implications

STUTTGART, Germany, Feb 20 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday vowed to uphold an informal pact within Germany's political mainstream not to partner with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Merz’s Pledge and Rhetoric

"We will not allow these people from the so-called Alternative for Germany to ruin our country," Merz told fellow members of his conservative CDU at a national party conference in the southwestern city of Stuttgart.

"And that is why I say with full conviction: this party cannot be a partner of the CDU," Merz said, adding that the AfD must expect a bitter fight by conservatives.

Concerns Over AfD’s Rise

Many Germans are alarmed by the AfD, whose rise evokes parallels with the Nazi Party's ascent in the 1930s, when authoritarian rule was established through legal means.

Mainstream Parties’ Firewall

Germany's mainstream parties refuse to work with its lawmakers by giving them influential positions in parliament or forming coalitions. The AfD argues this is undemocratic.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke in Stuttgart and James Mackenzie in Berlin, writing by Friederike Heine, editing by Linda Pasquini and Thomas Seythal)

Key Takeaways

•Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed that the CDU will not cooperate with the AfD.
•Remarks were delivered at a national CDU conference in Stuttgart on Feb. 20.
•Merz pledged a determined political fight against the far-right party.
•Germany’s mainstream parties continue to maintain a no-coalition firewall with AfD.
•AfD argues its exclusion from coalitions is undemocratic.

Frequently Asked Questions about Germany's Merz says his conservatives will not partner with far-right AfD

1What is the main topic?

The article reports Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirming that the CDU will not partner with the far-right AfD, stressing the party’s commitment to a firewall against cooperation.

2Why won’t the CDU work with the AfD?

Merz says there is no common ground with the AfD and that conservatives will fight its agenda, aligning with Germany’s broader practice of shunning coalitions with the far right.

3When and where were these remarks made?

Merz spoke on February 20, 2026, at a national CDU party conference in Stuttgart, Germany.

CDU’s Stance on AfD and Implications

Merz’s Pledge and Rhetoric

"And that is why I say with full conviction: this party cannot be a partner of the CDU," Merz said, adding that the AfD must expect a bitter fight by conservatives.

Concerns Over AfD’s Rise

Many Germans are alarmed by the AfD, whose rise evokes parallels with the Nazi Party's ascent in the 1930s, when authoritarian rule was established through legal means.

Mainstream Parties’ Firewall

Germany's mainstream parties refuse to work with its lawmakers by giving them influential positions in parliament or forming coalitions. The AfD argues this is undemocratic.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke in Stuttgart and James Mackenzie in Berlin, writing by Friederike Heine, editing by Linda Pasquini and Thomas Seythal)

Key Takeaways

•Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed that the CDU will not cooperate with the AfD.

•Remarks were delivered at a national CDU conference in Stuttgart on Feb. 20.

•Merz pledged a determined political fight against the far-right party.

•Germany’s mainstream parties continue to maintain a no-coalition firewall with AfD.

•AfD argues its exclusion from coalitions is undemocratic.

Frequently Asked Questions

1What is the main topic?

The article reports Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirming that the CDU will not partner with the far-right AfD, stressing the party’s commitment to a firewall against cooperation.

2Why won’t the CDU work with the AfD?

Merz says there is no common ground with the AfD and that conservatives will fight its agenda, aligning with Germany’s broader practice of shunning coalitions with the far right.

3When and where were these remarks made?

Merz spoke on February 20, 2026, at a national CDU party conference in Stuttgart, Germany.