Comment by milesrout

The CDU/CSU understands perfectly. That is why its immigration policy has turned around completely. It is now basically the same as AfD's, in the hopes of drawing its old voters back. But the voters aren't stupid. Because of the cordon sanitaire, the CDU/CSU can't implement its migration policy without violating the most sacred "rule" of German politics: you cannot work with the AfD. If you do, the establishment media and the left (SPD/Greens) will be very upset with you. And we can't have that! Look at all the howling there was over the CDU even considering using AfD votes to pass migration reform recently.