Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer has not ruled out talks with the AfD, which has sparked criticism within the CDU. Steffen Bilger, the Union's parliamentary group manager, emphasizes the need for a 'hard distinction' from the AfD. These statements come in a political climate where the AfD is gaining increasing influence, and the CDU must clearly position itself to avoid losing its voter base. Bilger calls for the CDU to distance itself from extreme positions and defend the party's values.