The AfD’s Growing Influence in Germany: Echoes of the Past?

Germany’s federal elections took place on February 23rd, a pivotal moment for Europe’s biggest economic powerhouse. Parliamentary elections, typically held in September, were brought forward to February following the collapse of the parliament’s predominant coalition, the Ampel (traffic light) Coalition. The moderately conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), led by Friedrich Merz as their chancellor candidate, emerged as the leading party. Trailing behind is the AfD, a far-right party that has been steadily gaining traction since its founding in 2013. The results are perhaps shocking, but are hardly surprising. Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the AfD has been gaining momentum in Germany, feeding off the ruling grand coalition's infighting, weak economic growth, troubling immigration policies, and controversial foreign policy. As AfD politicians celebrate their historical victory, a close examination of the AfD reminds us of Germany’s dark political past, and where the country is headed.

The Alternative für Deutschland is a party that was founded just over a decade ago, and it entered the German Bundestag for the first time in 2017. It currently holds representation in 14 German state legislatures (out of 16), as well as the European Parliament. As a party who campaigned mostly upon Euro-skeptic monetary politics in its beginnings, the party has experienced great electoral success, most recently in the June 2024 election for the European parliament, where the party finished second nationally. 

The AfD's electoral success can be attributed, at least in part, to its charismatic leader, none other than Alice Weidel. An ex-Goldman Sachs analyst, she is openly married to an immigrant woman from Sri Lanka and share 2 sons together. . But as the leader of the party, Weidel’s policy position contradicts sharply from her diverse background. She has shown support for right-wing immigration policies, including controversial policies to forcefully deport existing immigrants. On foreign policies, Weidel has long been a vocal advocate for eliminating sanctions on Russia, and ceasing any German financial support for Ukrainian resistance. True to the party’s founding ideals, Wiedel has also expressed interest in withdrawing Germany from the EU, as well as replacing the Euro for a German coin. 

Echoing her opinions is her party ally, Björn Höcke.   A vocal supporter of strict anti-immigration policies, Höcke’s many remarks are a reminder of the Nazi error. Publically, he claimed that Germany is experiencing a ‘national death through population replacement.’ On campaigns, the former history teacher is known for his repeated use of phrases such as “Everything for Germany,” a slogan once engraved on the knives of Nazi storm troopers, which has been declared illegal in the Federal Republic of Germany. As if that was not enough, he was also the former leader of the AfD’s extremist faction Der Flügel, right-wing extremist organization which was disbanded under the pressure of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in 2020. . 

But these controversial positions have nevertheless helped AfD to become a political party that can no longer be ignored. The AfD rose in popularity initially by challenging ex-chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to admit about 1.3 million undocumented migrants and refugees, primarily from the Middle East. They intend to ban foreign funding of mosques in Germany, the burka, and the Muslim call to prayer. The AfD’s manifesto states that Islam does not belong to Germany and that the growing number of Muslims in the country are a danger to the German state, society, and values. To the party,  the concept that criticism of religion, including Islam, falls under the legitimacy of the right to freedom of opinion. Even so, addressing the rise of the far-right in Germany presents both legal and political challenges. An AfD-Verbot (a ban for the AfD) has been a recurring discussion within German politics. Currently, 113 members of the Bundestag out of 733 believe that parliament should decide on a ban motion, and submitted one in mid-November 2024 but such a ban may walk a fine line between protection and the erosion of democratic principles–especially while it leads in the polls. 

There has been a long-standing consensus in the German Bundestag against cooperating with the far right, dating back to the founding of post-war German democracy in 1949, but as AfD’s influence grows, this principle is under challenge. Early this year, the CDU/CSU put forth immigration proposals that only passed with the support of the AfD. Both ex-chancellor Angela Merkel and incumbent chancellor Olaf Scholz have expressed their disapproval for this action. However, polls conducted by the Deutsche Welle (DW) show that a majority of people agree with the CDU/CSU stance on immigration despite their collaboration with the AfD on a proposed immigration bill that initially advanced due to the AfD’s support. 

As Germany wrestles with the rise of the far right, it faces an uncertain political future. After the atrocities of WWII, Germany committed to the principle of Nie Wieder—"never again." Yet, this principle has become increasingly controversial in light of the growing influence of far-right political parties, particularly the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). Winston Churchill once warned, "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." While history may not repeat itself exactly, it often rhymes—and Germany now finds itself at a pivotal moment that demands reflection.