Full Breakdown
Germany’s “Political Firewall” Against the AfD Faces Growing Strain
8/24/2026, 11:12:15 AM
The Core Policy and Its Origin
Germany’s centrist parties have long maintained a “political firewall” – a formal refusal to cooperate with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The policy, first popularised by Friedrich Merz when he became leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in December 2021, was codified in a 2018 CDU “resolution of incompatibility” that bars coalitions or any form of cooperation with both the AfD and the socialist Left Party. The firewall is intended to protect democratic institutions by isolating parties classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as “right-wing extremist” at the state-level.
Pressures and Exceptions
Despite the formal stance, several high-profile breaches have occurred. In January 2025 the CDU, while in opposition, supported a Bundestag motion rejecting asylum-seekers that passed with AfD votes, prompting criticism of Merz’s adherence to the firewall. Earlier, in 2020, FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich became Thuringia’s premier with AfD backing, a result that former Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded be reversed. At the municipal level, cross-party voting with the AfD is common, with some officials arguing that shared support for routine projects (e.g., daycare centres) does not constitute ideological alignment.
Diverging Positions Within the Political Landscape
- CDU leadership – Chancellor Friedrich Merz now avoids the term “firewall” and, according to recent statements, continues to uphold the incompatibility resolution despite isolated breaches.
- Parliamentary group chair – Thorsten Frei, chair of the Bundestag’s conservative parliamentary group, reaffirmed that the ban on cooperation is a “fundamental party resolution” that cannot vary by state.
- Left-wing opposition – The Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens also reject any AfD cooperation, though they lack formal resolutions. Sahra Wagenknecht, founder of the left-wing populist Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), opposes permanent exclusion of a party that garners roughly 40 % of votes in eastern Germany and has said it would be “completely undemocratic” to do so. She is prepared to facilitate an AfD-led government in Saxony-Anhalt, where elections are scheduled for September 6.
Official Responses and Party Dynamics
The CDU’s internal Small and Medium Enterprises and Economic Union briefly proposed repealing the incompatibility resolution, but the motion was withdrawn after criticism from federal leadership. At the federal level, the party leadership, including Chancellor Merz, remains firm on maintaining the firewall, while regional actors continue to question its practicality.
Implications and Outlook
The firewall’s effectiveness is contested. Polling shows the AfD’s support rising, suggesting that isolation may not diminish its appeal. Critics warn that selective cooperation at local levels could normalise the party and eventually influence state or federal politics. Proponents argue that refusing any partnership preserves democratic norms, especially given the AfD’s classification by domestic intelligence as extremist in several state branches. As eastern German states grapple with coalition building, the tension between principled exclusion and pragmatic governance is likely to shape Germany’s political landscape in the coming months.
