Firewall against the far-right in Germany
The concept of the "firewall against the far-right" in Germany represents a strategic approach and political demand within civil society and political circles. It focuses on the dynamics between mainstream political parties and far-right entities such as the AfD and Die Heimat (formerly NPD). The primary objective is to prevent mainstream parties from endorsing anti-democratic elements and to discourage alignment with or rapproachment towards far-right ideologies, advocating instead for a policy of non-cooperation with these parties.
The phrase "We are the firewall" is used as a slogan (in German: "Wir sind die Brandmauer!") in public debates concerning the appropriate response of political actors to the uprising right-wing populist, antidemocratic and far-right tendencies in Germany. The widespread anti-extremism protests in 2024, which drew hundreds of thousands of protesters, have intensified the public discourse on how to effectively uphold this firewall. Protesters have made historical comparisons to Nazi Germany, particularly the Nazi seizure of power, emphasizing their current call for a firewall against the far-right with the slogan "Never again is now." (German: "Nie wieder ist jetzt!"). Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius (SPD) echoed these concerns, cautioning against a repeat of history by highlighting the dangers of weak public support for democracy during the late Weimar Republic.
Regarding current political strategies, some members of the German parliament from the CDU have proposed "taking away the topics of the AfD" to diminish its influence effectively. However, recent research by political scientists indicates that accommodating and adopting typical far-right themes does not diminish support for radical right parties (RRP). On the contrary, scholars have found that RRP can benefit when mainstream parties make far-right framings appear socially acceptable, thereby legitimizing controversial statements.
The debate on non-cooperation with far-right German parties is also influenced by discussions on how to manage far-right parties at the European level following the 2024 European Parliament elections, particularly in light of the rise of far-right parties gaining governmental influence.