German far-right AfD and BSW deepen ties ahead of eastern state elections
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German far-right AfD and BSW deepen ties ahead of eastern state elections
AfD hits record 37% in Brandenburg poll as governing coalition collapses
Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Sahra Wagenknecht’s Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) deepened their political cooperation on Tuesday, marking a strategic shift that risks eroding Germany’s post-war consensus against far-right influence in government. In a letter published on 30 June 2026, the BSW openly sought closer ties with the AfD ahead of state elections in eastern Germany, a move condemned by mainstream parties as a dangerous departure from democratic norms . The rapprochement comes as polls show the AfD gaining ground, with a Forsa survey placing the party at 26% nationally, just four points behind the CDU/CSU .
The BSW’s overtures, including an invitation to AfD leader Alice Weidel for a joint campaign event, signal a deliberate blurring of ideological lines. Commentators warn the alliance could normalise far-right participation in governance, particularly in eastern states where both parties are expected to perform strongly in upcoming ballots . “This is not just a tactical manoeuvre—it’s a fundamental challenge to Germany’s democratic firewall,” said political scientist Herfried Münkler in remarks to *Die Zeit* .
The timing is critical as NATO prepares for its July summit in Ankara, where European allies face pressure to counter Russian aggression while managing internal divisions. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, speaking on 29 June, reaffirmed Berlin’s commitment to collective defence but declined to comment on the BSW-AfD rapprochement, citing ongoing electoral sensitivities . Meanwhile, EU partners are closely watching Berlin’s response, with French President Emmanuel Macron privately expressing concern over the erosion of Germany’s pro-European consensus .
Domestically, the shift has triggered backlash. The SPD and Greens accused the BSW of betraying democratic values, while the AfD framed the collaboration as a necessary corrective to Berlin’s “failed migration policies.” Analysts note the BSW’s gambit reflects desperation to regain relevance after polling at just 3% nationally, down from 12% in May 2025 . “They’re gambling that proximity to the AfD will translate into votes,” said *Süddeutsche Zeitung* columnist Heribert Prantl. “But history suggests the opposite: far-right alliances rarely end well for their junior partners.”
With eastern German state elections looming and the AfD’s influence growing across Europe—where it now leads the far-right European Sovereign Nations (ESN) group in the European Parliament—the BSW’s overtures risk reshaping Germany’s political landscape ahead of federal elections in 2027 . For now, the “brandmauer”—the post-war taboo against cooperation with far-right parties—stands cracked, if not yet broken.
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