Germany’s efforts to contain far-right extremism are weakening, with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party poised to perform strongly in Sunday’s federal parliamentary election. Vice President J.D. Vance recently criticized European leaders for ignoring popular discontent over immigration, echoing the AfD’s stance on deporting immigrants.
Vance’s comments were seen as a nod to the AfD, which has gained support among voters concerned about “out-of-control migration.” However, the party’s tactics have been labeled as undemocratic by establishment leaders. A firewall approach, meant to silence far-right extremists, is seen as a threat to democracy by some.
In response to the AfD’s growing influence, other parties have formed coalitions to exclude them from government. But this strategy has failed to quell the party’s momentum, fueling frustration among AfD supporters who see themselves as fighting against a regime they believe is undermining democracy.
The situation has reached a boiling point, with some AfD supporters expressing a desire to storm the Bastille and challenge the existing power structure. This growing unrest raises concerns about the state of German politics and the effectiveness of its anti-extremist measures.
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/02/afd-cdu-germany-election/681776