Julia Klöckner Faces Backlash Over Deleted Instagram Post Addressing AfD Voters

The CDU politician altered her controversial post after criticism for perceived alignment with far-right positions, defending her intent to reclaim voters for her party.

Julia Klöckner, a senior CDU politician, posted on Instagram suggesting AfD voters could find their desired policies within the CDU, leading to significant criticism.
The post was interpreted by some as equating CDU policies with those of the far-right AfD, prompting accusations of undermining the party's stance against extremism.
Klöckner deleted the original post and replaced it with a statement emphasizing the CDU's commitment to democracy, law, and order while distancing herself from the AfD.
Critics from the SPD and Greens accused Klöckner of downplaying the threat of the AfD, while she defended her approach as an effort to engage disillusioned voters without endorsing extremism.
Klöckner maintains that her intent was to challenge misconceptions among voters considering the AfD and reinforce the CDU as a democratic alternative.

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