The TV duel between Thuringian CDU leader Mario Voigt and AfD state chairman Björn Höcke has sparked mixed reactions. The federal CDU called the TV duel on Thursday evening “important”. Voigt showed what it was about: “A reasonable political new beginning for Thuringia or chaos and division through the alleged alternative,” the CDU stated on the messaging service X. North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) demanded to follow Voigt’s example and participate in further public debates with extremists. Wüst stated that the fight against extremism must be carried out everywhere, including in the political arena. Voigt was praised for exposing the undemocratic and anti-human Höcke during the debate on WELT TV. The direct confrontation with a democratic centrist weakened the Nazi Höcke.
CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann praised Voigt’s “courageous course” as “absolutely right”. Linnemann described Voigt’s performance on Thursday evening as calm, competent, and close to the people of Thuringia. He commended Voigt for confronting the extremists with his bold approach. Linnemann expressed his disappointment when Höcke claimed not to know the SA slogan he had used. He emphasized that individuals like Höcke should not hold any responsibility in the country. Voigt himself expressed satisfaction with the debate on WELT TV, stating that clear differences were demonstrated between the CDU, standing in the center, and the extremist group around Björn Höcke. Voigt indicated that he was open to further debates with Höcke, if necessary.
From the AfD, praise was given to Höcke for his “excellent performance” during the debate. On the other hand, Voigt was criticized for delivering empty phrases. The dispute between Höcke and Voigt over the correct name for a minced meat sandwich in Thuringia resulted in a discussion that was unexpected by many. The Left party condemned the TV duel, stating that it provided a stage for the extremist rhetoric of Höcke and criticizing Voigt for increasing his own popularity at the expense of giving a platform to a right-wing extremist.
Thuringian Minister President Bodo Ramelow criticized Voigt for engaging in a TV duel with a right-wing extremist like Höcke. He accused Voigt of providing Höcke with additional attention for his hateful views. Ramelow emphasized that Adolf Hitler-lover Höcke remains a Nazi, while questioning Voigt’s credibility for avoiding a clear stance on working with the AfD to gain votes. The Left party co-leader in the Bundestag, Heidi Reichinnek, labeled the TV duel as a failure, stating that giving a demagogue like Höcke a platform only served to further spread his lies and hatred.
Five months before the Thuringian state elections, Voigt and Höcke engaged in a heated debate on topics such as European policy and migration, lasting for over 70 minutes. Both are leading candidates for their parties in the upcoming elections on September 1st. The AfD has been ahead in the polls for months, followed by the CDU. The Thuringian AfD branch is classified as extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Thuringia is currently governed by the Left party with Minister President Bodo Ramelow in a minority government with the SPD and Greens, lacking a parliamentary majority.
