Mainstream German Party and Far Right Cooperation

The growing collaboration between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has raised concerns about mainstream political parties enabling extremist ideologies. Friedrich Merz, the likely next Chancellor, has pursued tougher immigration policies with the support of the AfD, igniting backlash from both current and former CDU leadership. This strategy aims to retain voters who might otherwise gravitate toward far-right parties, but it risks alienating centrist constituents who oppose such collaboration. Historical parallels illustrate that appealing to far-right sentiments often backfires, with research suggesting that once individuals vote for extreme parties, they are unlikely to return to mainstream options.