German FDP Leader Calls for Debates with AfD, Rules Out Cooperation

Henning Höne, the state chairman of the FDP in North Rhine-Westphalia, is urging a more confrontational approach towards the AfD in the upcoming state election campaign. Höne believes that simply expressing indignation is not enough and that the AfD must be challenged on substantive issues.

"Merely showing outrage is not sufficient," Höne stated in a WDR5 interview. He criticized the common practice of parties like the SPD and Greens canceling panel discussions when an AfD representative is invited, labeling such behavior as a mistake. Höne anticipates that the AfD will participate in numerous panel discussions during the campaign leading up to the April 2027 state elections, and he insists that their arguments must be directly confronted.

However, Höne was unequivocal in ruling out any form of cooperation with the AfD. "Because it is a party that does not stand with both feet on the ground of the Basic Law. And therefore, it cannot be a party with which democrats cooperate," he emphasized. This stance aligns with the broader FDP's position, despite recent internal debates.

The FDP's approach to the AfD was a contentious issue at the party's recent federal congress. New federal chairman Wolfgang Kubicki had previously made remarks, such as "Firewall? I don't know it. It's not in the constitution. It doesn't exist," which fueled concerns among critics that he intended to shift the FDP further to the right. Nevertheless, Kubicki also reaffirmed at the congress that "There will never be cooperation with the AfD by liberals, never."

Höne himself was elected as one of the deputy chairmen at the FDP federal congress over the weekend. He had initially considered running for the federal chairmanship but ultimately withdrew his candidacy.