The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has solidified its position as a significant political force 13 years after its inception, yet it remains excluded from all state and federal governance. This isolation is maintained by a so-called “firewall,” a consensus among mainstream German parties to refuse cooperation with the anti-immigrant, far-right group. This strategy is currently facing its most severe challenge following a landslide victory for the AfD in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Mainstream parties have long maintained this barrier, citing the AfD’s classification as an extremist group by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency in several regions, including Saxony-Anhalt. Such collaboration is viewed with particular sensitivity given the country’s Nazi history. While many Germans once believed their nation had developed a robust immunity to nationalism through education and legal safeguards against persecution, recent electoral trends suggest that conviction was premature as voters increasingly turn toward the far right.
In Sunday’s election, the AfD captured 43.8% of the vote, more than doubling its performance from five years ago. Conversely, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right Christian Democrats saw their support cut in half. Despite the AfD’s rejection of accusations that it is undemocratic or anti-constitutional, the firewall has previously forced other parties into complex, unconventional alliances—such as the three-party coalition in Thuringia—to prevent the AfD from taking power.
During last year’s national election, the AfD achieved its strongest result since World War II, becoming the primary opposition force after the Christian Democrats opted for an unpopular coalition with the Social Democrats to uphold the firewall. However, the current situation in Saxony-Anhalt appears more precarious. While Merz and other top officials have reiterated their refusal to cooperate with the AfD, other state-level lawmakers may prove less committed to the existing blockade.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s candidate for governor, is actively seeking to become the first far-right head of a state government. He has signaled his intent to engage with all parties and individual legislators to secure a governing majority. While Siegmund has dismissed the prospect of a minority government, he has left the door open to a potential partnership with the hard-left BSW party, which secured 5.3% of the vote. The two parties share common ground on immigration and a Russia-friendly foreign policy, despite disagreements on other issues.
On Monday, BSW lead candidate Thomas Schulze indicated his party’s willingness to assist an AfD governor in taking office. Forming an alternative government that excludes the AfD would require a five-party coalition involving the CDU, Social Democrats, the Greens, the Left Party, and the BSW. Such an arrangement would be highly unusual, logistically complex, and likely unstable. Furthermore, the AfD could potentially reach a majority if only three lawmakers from other parties defect to their side.
Political analyst Volker Resing noted that the AfD’s strong showing has created a realistic path to bypass the firewall, with the BSW potentially acting as a kingmaker. “This tiny party could now play a decisive role in determining the future of Saxony-Anhalt,” Resing told reporters. He added that it remains unclear whether these parties will leverage their shared stance on Russia to dismantle the firewall and establish Germany’s first far-right state government since the end of the Nazi era. The report also notes that or AfD, has established itself as a significant political force in the 13 years since its founding, but it has never been part of any state or federal government, bERLIN (AP) — Alternative for Germany. The report also notes that that conviction was mistaken, and similar to voters across Europe and elsewhere, voters in Germany are increasingly empowering the extreme far-right party, but as it turns out. The report also notes that however, a coalition involving five partners would be extremely unusual, very complicated and prone to instability.
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