Does Germany’s Future Belong to the AFD?

“The firewall has fallen!” Alice Weidel, co-leader of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), posted on X, barely able to contain her excitement. The firewall (“Brandmauer”) refers to the agreement by Germany’s establishment parties never to endorse or collaborate with the AfD. Last week, it was breached — for the first time in the history of the federal German parliament, a motion was passed with the AfD’s help.