Germany's 'political firewall' against the AfD: origins, challenges and future

In German politics, the term "political firewall" describes a hard line against parties deemed extremist, most prominently the Alternative for Germany (AfD). The metaphor gained traction through Friedrich Merz, who promised a firewall when he became CDU leader in December 2021 and later codified it in a 2018 party resolution that forbids coalitions with the AfD and the socialist Left Party. Although the rule is meant to shield democratic institutions, the CDU has at times accepted AfD support, such as the January 2025 Bundestag vote on asylum-seeker policy, leading to accusations that Merz has breached his own policy.

Local councils frequently cooperate with the AfD on routine matters, sparking fears of gradual normalisation. Critics like Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) contend that permanently excluding a party backed by about 40% of voters is undemocratic, while CDU figures including Thorsten Frei and Chancellor Merz stress that the incompatibility resolution remains binding nationwide. The debate continues over whether the firewall can be sustained as the AfD’s poll share rises, especially in eastern German states.