Merz slams AfD for cronyism as CDU's own scandals resurface ahead of elections
All too often, politically savvy rhetoricians take the easy way out, deploying every demagogic trick in the book to dismantle an otherwise valid argument—not by addressing the argument itself, but by attacking its supposed unnaturalness, immorality, or simply the person making it.
Yet sometimes, you can't help but look past a fundamentally sound argument and instead fixate on the staggering hypocrisy of the person delivering it.
Such is the case with the latest remarks from Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). Responding to reports of cronyism within the Alternative for Germany (AfD), he declared: "I would prefer to spare us a legal regulation. But given the scale of the abuse, we may have no choice." He went on to claim that the AfD is "steeped in deep-rooted nepotism and backroom dealing."
Fair enough—the criticism itself is valid. But the motivation behind the chancellor's sudden outrage is as transparent as the glass house his own party occupies. In a bid to undermine the AfD ahead of upcoming state elections, the CDU has conveniently rediscovered its distaste for corruption—despite being one of the most scandal-plagued parties in Germany.
The list of corruption scandals is long—too long. Here's just a sample: In the "mask affair," CDU lawmaker Nikolas Löbel and CSU politician Georg Nüßlein pocketed hefty commissions for brokering deals on COVID-19 protective masks. The Philipp Amthor case exposed just how intertwined political mandates and lobbying interests can be—complete with stock options. In the so-called "Azerbaijan affair," CDU politician Axel Fischer came under investigation for voting in another country's interests. And let's not forget the slush funds and massive donations scandal under former Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
The sheer audacity with which Merz declares that the AfD is no paragon of virtue leaves you speechless. He might as well have added: "They're corrupt—just like us!" Sometimes, even a valid argument is tainted by the messenger.
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