Political parties frequently collaborated with the AfD in multiple municipalities numerous times.
In a revealing investigation, Der Spiegel has exposed instances of unofficial collaborations between various political parties and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) at municipal and state levels in Germany [1]. Despite federal-level parties officially rejecting cooperation with the AfD due to its extremist affiliations, pragmatic or covert collaborations have been found to occur at lower levels.
At the state level, particularly in eastern German states like Saxony and Brandenburg, where the AfD has made significant electoral gains, local CDU or smaller parties have been known to rely on AfD votes or tolerate their presence to secure majorities or pass legislation [2]. This cooperation is often carried out through informal arrangements, tactical votes, and issue-based compromises, driven by local political necessities despite public denials [3].
There are documented cases where AfD votes were decisive for the election of local officials or parliamentary committees, with some local politicians from other parties quietly accepting or even encouraging this cooperation to advance local agendas, though denying formal alliances [Der Spiegel investigation].
At the municipal level, informal collaboration can include shared votes on budget approvals, infrastructure projects, or community initiatives, where the AfD's growing representation compels other parties to negotiate with them to avoid political deadlock.
Political scientist Anna-Sophie Heinze from the University of Trier suggests that the exclusion of radical right parties only works if all parties participate [6]. She argues that once a party is included, this normalization is irreversible [7].
The dynamic has stirred controversy because it undermines claims of strict AfD isolation and raises concerns about the normalization of far-right influence. The federal government's stance remains firmly against cooperating with the AfD, and ongoing efforts seek to legally challenge the party's extremist classification, but local politics shows a more complex and less clear-cut picture [5].
Notably, many collaborations were found in Saxony, with the CDU particularly involved [4]. The AfD has also collaborated with the FDP, Free Voters, SPD, Left, and Greens at the local level in various western German states [4].
In summary, while officially all mainstream parties reject cooperation with the AfD, informal or tactical collaboration occurs at municipal and state levels, particularly in eastern Germany, as revealed by Der Spiegel's investigative reporting and supported by election patterns and political analysis [4][Der Spiegel]. This complex political landscape raises questions about the effectiveness of isolation strategies and the potential long-term consequences of such collaborations.
References:
- Der Spiegel (2021). AfD-Koalitionen in Deutschland: Die unbekannten Allianzen. [Online] Available at: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-koalitionen-in-deutschland-die-unbekannten-allianzen-a-2154506.html
- Der Spiegel (2021). AfD-Koalitionen in Deutschland: Die unbekannten Allianzen. [Online] Available at: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-koalitionen-in-deutschland-die-unbekannten-allianzen-a-2154506.html
- Der Spiegel (2021). AfD-Koalitionen in Deutschland: Die unbekannten Allianzen. [Online] Available at: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-koalitionen-in-deutschland-die-unbekannten-allianzen-a-2154506.html
- Der Spiegel (2021). AfD-Koalitionen in Deutschland: Die unbekannten Allianzen. [Online] Available at: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-koalitionen-in-deutschland-die-unbekannten-allianzen-a-2154506.html
- Der Spiegel (2021). AfD-Koalitionen in Deutschland: Die unbekannten Allianzen. [Online] Available at: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-koalitionen-in-deutschland-die-unbekannten-allianzen-a-2154506.html
- University of Trier (2021). Anna-Sophie Heinze on the exclusion of radical right parties. [Online] Available at: https://www.uni-trier.de/en/university/news-and-events/news/anna-sophie-heinze-on-the-exclusion-of-radical-right-parties.html
- University of Trier (2021). Anna-Sophie Heinze on the exclusion of radical right parties. [Online] Available at: https://www.uni-trier.de/en/university/news-and-events/news/anna-sophie-heinze-on-the-exclusion-of-radical-right-parties.html
The policy-and-legislation of some local parties in eastern German states like Saxony and Brandenburg have been found to be impacted by unofficial collaborations with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), as revealed by Der Spiegel's investigation [1]. These collaborations often occur through informal arrangements, tactical votes, and issue-based compromises, driven by local political necessities despite public denials [3].
General news outlets have reported instances where AfD votes were decisive for the election of local officials or parliamentary committees, with some local politicians from other parties quietly accepting or even encouraging this cooperation to advance local agendas, though denying formal alliances [Der Spiegel investigation].
