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Study Reveals 19% Cooperation with Far-Right AfD in German Municipal Politics

Research highlights the erosion of a political 'firewall' as all major parties show instances of collaboration with the AfD between 2019 and 2024.

Ein Protest für den Beibehalt der Brandmauer zur AfD in Potsdam: Auch die Autoren der Studie warnen vor der „Normalisierung und Legitimierung der radikalen Kräfte“. (Themenbild)
Der Co-Chef der AfD, Tino Chrupalla, in Sachsen
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AfD Logo

Overview

  • The study, conducted by Harvard professor Daniel Ziblatt and commissioned by the Berlin Social Science Center, analyzed over 11,000 municipal and district council meetings from 2019 to 2024.
  • Findings show that representatives from established parties cooperated with the far-right AfD in 19% of cases, challenging the commitment to avoid collaboration.
  • Fringe parties and independents, such as the Free Voters, had the highest cooperation rates at 86.5%, while the FDP and CDU cooperated in approximately 38% of cases.
  • No significant differences were found between East and West Germany overall, but rural areas in East Germany exhibited higher cooperation rates than urban areas.
  • The study warns that such cooperation risks normalizing and legitimizing radical right-wing forces, potentially enabling their consolidation of power within democratic structures.