CDU and BSW Launch Campaigns Amid Political Tensions

Friedrich Merz defends CDU's migration stance while Sahra Wagenknecht's BSW faces challenges in its Bundestag bid.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz reaffirmed his party's stance against any collaboration with the AfD, emphasizing the party's commitment to migration restrictions and economic reforms.
The CDU's controversial migration policies have drawn widespread protests, with hundreds of thousands demonstrating against the party's recent legislative alignment with the AfD in the Bundestag.
Sahra Wagenknecht's new party, Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), struggles to maintain momentum as it launches its campaign, facing low polling numbers and accusations of lacking a distinct platform.
Wagenknecht criticized Germany's economic policies and military support for Ukraine, while advocating for reduced migration and opposing sanctions on Russia, drawing both support and sharp criticism.
Internal divisions within the CDU over strategy and messaging persist, with some members expressing concerns about the long-term risks of the party's current approach to migration and its association with right-wing rhetoric.