AFD makes headway in German towns

Despite an in-party ban on CDU politicians working with the far-right, some representatives have been doing exactly that

A report published by the German national broadcaster ARD suggests that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AFD) has been making headway in 18 towns in the country – thanks to the support of representatives from the CDU – the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel. The findings contain information that in many towns in the states of Saxony and Thuringia, the two parties have formed governing coalitions, despite the CDU outrightly denouncing any form of cooperation with members of the far-right. Angela Merkel has even threatened anyone found cooperating with the AFD with severe consequences.

The local party organizations have refuted the claims of cooperation stating that if it had taken place, it has already been terminated following the implementation of a de-facto ban on working with far-right politicians in government. Yet that does not appear to be completely true as a neo-nazi politician was elected in the village Altenstadt-Waldsiedlung thanks to the support of mainstream parties. Of course, he was later removed from office after serving for just a few short days in the wake of country-wide outrage.

The far-right in Germany has been making gains over the past year, registering a sharp rise in support in eastern German states. In some places it has won enough votes to become an immovable object that might prove impossible to politically navigate around, so it should come as no surprise that some local representatives have resorted to cooperation in order to break coalition deadlocks.