Politics
Germany's political firewall against the AfD faces mounting strain amid state elections
Mainstream parties continue to debate the policy of excluding the far-right Alternative for Germany as regional support for the party grows.
The short version
- Germany's established political parties maintain an informal and formal cordon sanitaire, known as the firewall, barring cooperation with the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
- Rising poll numbers for the AfD in eastern states, alongside instances of cross-party voting at local and federal levels, are increasing pressure on the policy.
- Major parties remain committed to formal non-cooperation federally, but upcoming state elections in Saxony-Anhalt will test the viability of future governing coalitions.
Key facts
- The CDU maintains a 2018 incompatibility resolution prohibiting coalitions and cooperation with both the AfD and the Left Party.[Deutsche Welle]
- Germany's domestic intelligence agency has designated specific AfD regional associations as confirmed right-wing extremist organizations.[Deutsche Welle]
- No formal proceedings have been initiated before the Federal Constitutional Court to evaluate a potential nationwide ban on the AfD.[Deutsche Welle]
- A January 2025 CDU parliamentary motion restricting asylum seekers passed with AfD voting support, drawing criticism over adherence to the firewall.[Deutsche Welle]
- Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) founder Sahra Wagenknecht stated that excluding the AfD is undemocratic and expressed openness to enabling an AfD-led state government in Saxony-Anhalt.[Deutsche Welle]
- Federal CDU and CSU parliamentary leadership reiterated that the ban on cooperating with the AfD applies uniformly across all German states.[Deutsche Welle]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unresolved how viable governing coalitions can be formed in eastern German states where the AfD holds a significant share of parliamentary seats.[Deutsche Welle]