Thorsten Frei, leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in Germany, expresses belief in the potential for a coalition despite internal criticisms of its past achievements. He views recent exploratory talks with extremist groups as a particularly low point in the political process. Frei discussed the growing impatience within his own party ranks and reflected on his predecessor, Jens Spahn. The conversation highlighted tensions surrounding potential compromises and the challenges of forming a stable government. He implicitly criticized engagement with the AfD, underlining the difficulty of negotiating with parties considered to be on the fringes of the political spectrum. Frei’s comments provide insight into the complexities facing German coalition building.