The German political "firewall" (Brandmauer)—the longstanding agreement by mainstream parties to never cooperate with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)—is currently under severe strain and is increasingly described as "crumbling".

 

Is the anti-AfD firewall crumbling?

The German political "firewall" (Brandmauer)—the longstanding agreement by mainstream parties to never cooperate with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)—is currently under severe strain and is increasingly described as "crumbling". While it remains formally intact at the federal level, recent events and shifting political realities have significantly weakened it.

 

Key Factors Weakening the Firewall

Federal Legislative Breaches: In early 2025, the conservative CDU led by Friedrich Merz passed a non-binding anti-immigration motion in the Bundestag that relied on AfD votes to succeed. This move was widely condemned by political rivals and civil society as a "taboo break" that effectively dismantled the principle of total non-cooperation.

European-Level Cooperation: In March 2026, reports emerged that staff-level members of the Conservative group in the European Parliament participated in a WhatsApp group with AfD lawmakers to coordinate on asylum legislation.

Electoral Success: The AfD has become Germany’s second-most popular party nationally, winning over 20% of the vote in the 2025 federal election and securing 152 seats. This success makes it increasingly difficult for other parties to form stable governing majorities without acknowledging the AfD's influence.

Grassroots Erosion: In Eastern Germany and municipal governments, the firewall is even more precarious. Local CDU leaders have publicly questioned the strategy, and "tacit collaboration" at the municipal level has become more common as parties seek to avoid legislative deadlock.

Internal Pressure: Within the CDU, some members argue the firewall has backfired by radicalizing the AfD and alienating millions of voters. There are growing calls to replace total isolation with practical cooperation based on specific "red lines".

 

Remaining Barriers

Despite these cracks, the firewall has not "collapsed" entirely:

No Formal Coalitions: No mainstream party has yet entered into a formal government coalition with the AfD at the federal or state level.

Civil Society Resistance: Widespread public protests continue to demand the firewall be upheld, with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against right-wing extremism.

Official Party Policy: Friedrich Merz and other centrist leaders continue to officially reject federal cooperation, though critics argue their rhetoric and policies are increasingly mirroring the AfD's platform.