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An out-of-focus German flag in the background and blue AfD signs in focus in the foreground
Image: Hannes P Albert/dpa/picture allianceImage: Hannes P Albert/dpa/picture alliance

Alternative for Germany (AfD)

After the far-right AfD continued its run of electoral successes, politicians in Germany consider how they can regain voters' trust.

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All Content on this topic

Merkel speaking in the Bundestag

Merkel lays out Germany's national interests

Angela Merkel countered a storm of accusations and scorn from the far-right AfD in parliament.
PoliticsNovember 21, 2018
Alice Weidel

AfD's Alice Weidel under official investigation

The AfD leader is accused of accepting a series of shady campaign donations from Switzerland.
PoliticsNovember 20, 2018
AfD press conference in Berlin in November

German media 'not falling for AfD anymore'

German reporters have learned to avoid being baited by the far-right populism of the AfD, a new OBS study says.
MediaNovember 20, 2018
Jörg Meuthen speaking into a DW microphone

Uniting Europe's populists

Germany's far-right AfD will use European elections to unite populists across the continent, its lead candidate told DW.
PoliticsNovember 17, 2018
AfD and German flags

AfD donation scandal deepens

The far-right party reportedly knew about a Dutch donor foundation far earlier than previously thought.
PoliticsNovember 16, 2018
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PoliticsNovember 16, 201859:00 min
Berlin and Beyond: AfD meldeportal

Berlin and beyond: Snitching for the AfD

The far-right AfD says Berliners are making use of its platform to denounce teachers who oppose its politics. Really?
PoliticsNovember 16, 2018
Tamsin Walker

WorldLink: AfD school snitching scheme

Germany's far-right AfD has rolled out a controversial online platform where students can report teachers who criticize the party's politics. WorldLink columnist Tamsin Walker ponders what the scheme could mean for debate and freedom of opinion in the classroom.
EducationNovember 16, 201804:35 min
Alice Weidel

AfD's Weidel under investigation

A leader of the far-right AfD is suspected of spending illegal foreign donations on party campaigns.
PoliticsNovember 14, 2018
Alice Weidel

AfD head under fire for Swiss donations

Alice Weidel is reported to have received €130,000 in campaign donations from Switzerland ahead of 2017 elections.
PoliticsNovember 12, 2018
Thurau Jens Kommentarbild App

A cold-hearted, fearmongering AfD

Jens Thurau
A fierce Bundestag debate over the UN migration pact has pitted Germany's far-right populists against all other parties.
PoliticsNovember 8, 2018
German MPs pointing fingers at each other in a heated debate

German parliament rows over UN Migration Compact

The far-right AfD has demanded that Germany follow the US example and withdraw from the UN Migration Compact.
PoliticsNovember 8, 2018
A protester holds an anti-AfD sign

Some AfD members 'persuaded to leave'

An AfD co-leader has admitted that some members who hold particularly extreme views have been persuaded to leave.
PoliticsNovember 6, 2018
War-torn street in Raqa

German lawmakers push for Syria deportations

Conservative lawmakers are demanding the German government re-evaluate Syria's security situation.
PoliticsNovember 5, 2018
Hans-Georg Maassen

Hans-Georg Maassen: A controversial career

German spy chief Hans-Georg Maassen has been accused of a number of improprieties throughout his career.
PoliticsNovember 5, 20188 images
Björn Höcke

AfD risks monitoring by security services

AfD leaders told members to refrain from saying "ethnicity inversion" to avoid being placed under surveillance.
PoliticsNovember 4, 2018
Symbolbild Schulbildung für Flüchtlingskinder

German teachers dismiss AfD snitch campaign

A hundred Hamburg school teachers have challenged an AfD classroom 'snitch' campaign, calling it 'denunciation.'
PoliticsNovember 2, 2018
A far-right demonstration of the Pro Chemnitz movement in September

German president calls for dialogue in Chemnitz

Two months after far-right violence and ensuing demonstrations rocked Germany, the president sat down with locals.
PoliticsNovember 1, 2018
Berlin: Friedrich Merz

Friedrich Merz makes his pitch for Merkel's job

Friedrich Merz, a ghost from the chancellor's past, appeared in Berlin to explain why he should succeed her.
PoliticsOctober 31, 2018
Ines Pohl

Opinion: Germany’s domestic focus continues

Ines Pohl
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PoliticsOctober 28, 2018
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Why are populist narratives so appealing?

Storyteller Jorn Precht says populist politicians share the ability to use a strong narrative to appeal to voters.
PoliticsOctober 28, 2018
Angela Merkel

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With the legitimacy of her big-tent coalition in question, the chancellor hopes for a positive outcome in Hesse.
PoliticsOctober 27, 2018
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Hesse Premier Volker Bouffier

Merkel braces for second election blow

Hesse's state election could have huge repercussions for Chancellor Angela Merkel and her not quite "grand" coalition.
PoliticsOctober 25, 2018
Jörn Precht, Experte für Dramaturgie | Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart

World in Progress: Explaining populist narratives

Storytelling expert Jörn Precht explains why populist leaders evoke nostalgia and fear to appeal to their supporters.
PoliticsOctober 24, 201806:25 min
Member of Parliament Frauke Petry is pictured during the 14. plenary session at Bundestag

Former AfD co-leader Petry faces perjury trial

The former chair of the Alternative for Germany political party, is to stand trial charged with giving false evidence.
PoliticsOctober 23, 2018
Anti-PEGIDA protest

PEGIDA turns 4: Rival groups rally in Dresden

Some 10,000 people joined demonstrations in Dresden opposing a celebratory rally by the far-right group PEGIDA.
PoliticsOctober 21, 2018
Coal power plant in Saxony-Anhalt

Eastern German states demand coal phaseout cash

Leaders in eastern Germany warn the far right will profit unless they get massive investment for changing energy policy.
PoliticsOctober 19, 2018
Landtagswahl in Bayern Freie Wähler

Bavaria's Free Voters — What you need to know

The Free Voters have scored a record number of votes in Bavaria's election and are likely to join the government.
PoliticsOctober 15, 2018
Jan Assmann & Aleida Assmann at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2018

German book trade Peace Prize winners slam AfD

The Assmanns rejected the AfD's attempts to downplay Germany's Nazi past and Alexander Gauland's 'bird shit' remark.
CultureOctober 15, 2018
Horst Seehofer (L) and Markus Söder

Conservatives battered in Bavaria, Greens gain

The Bavarian conservative CSU has lost its absolute majority while the Greens have come in a strong second.
PoliticsOctober 14, 2018
Two women ride horses beside a campaign poster for the CSU

Voters at polls in divisive Bavaria vote

With the CSU expecting a poor performance, the election could spell trouble for Chancellor Angela Merkel.
PoliticsOctober 14, 2018
A woman stands in front of a wall of campaign posters for the state election in Bavaria

Bavarian vote has loyal CSU voters thinking twice

As the polls open in Bavaria, voters are caught at a crossroads between tradition and change.
PoliticsOctober 12, 2018
Berlin PK Merkel Seeehofer Nahles Neu

Voter slump for Merkel, SPD, as Greens surge

A German television survey shows Chancellor Angela Merkel's three-party coalition polling only 41 percent jointly.
PoliticsOctober 11, 2018
A student raises her hand in class

German AfD scheme allows kids to tell on teachers

The AfD wants to set up online portals for students to report teachers who are critical of the party.
EducationOctober 9, 2018
Jüdische Bundesvereinigung in der AfD

Disbelief as AfD forms Jewish faction

Germany's opposition AfD has formed a group of Jewish adherents — leading to disbelief in Jewish organizations.
PoliticsOctober 7, 2018
Pegida Demo Germany & Israel flag

Far-right AfD forms group for Jewish members

A small number of Jewish people are founding a group to support the far-right Alternative for Germany party.
PoliticsOctober 7, 2018
Kommentatorenbild (Vorläufig) - Armin Langer - Publizist aus Berlin

Jews in AfD: A political prop

Armin Langer
The irony of a demonstrably anti-Semitic party welcoming Jews cannot be ignored, says guest columnist Armin Langer.
PoliticsOctober 6, 2018
Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel gets tough love from party's youth wing

Angela Merkel got a challenging reception from the youth wing of her party at their annual convention.
PoliticsOctober 6, 2018
Lars Steinke, AFD

AfD youth leader: Hitler 'forced' to invade Poland

The lines between the youth wing of the far-right AfD and openly extremist groups are becoming increasingly blurred.
PoliticsOctober 5, 2018
David McAllister

Is Angela Merkel a lame duck?

Conflict Zone meets German MEP and European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, David McAllister of the CDU.
PoliticsOctober 5, 2018
A demonstration in Chemnitz

Germany's centrists sway toward populism

One in three voters now sympathize with populist policies, according to a new study by Germany's Bertelsmann Foundation.
PoliticsOctober 1, 2018
Angela Merkel

Merkel urges understanding for eastern Germans

The chancellor said the issue of migration, in particular, had split the country.
PoliticsSeptember 29, 2018
Symbolbild EU-Erweiterung

Inside Europe 27.09.2018

Donald Trump's new man in Brussels talks about transatlantic ties - How EU companies plan to sidestep US sanctions on Iran - Italy's new anti-migrant law - New Polish movie upsets the Catholic Church - Northern Ireland under pressure to legalize abortions - Calls to ban the use of cages in animal farming - Campaigning against the far-right in eastern Germany – The future of fracking in England
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Steve Bannon in Switzerland

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Little has happened since Steve Bannon revealed he was starting a foundation in Europe. Have his partners lost interest?
PoliticsSeptember 26, 2018
A church tower and an AfD sign

German Protestant Church bans AfD speakers at congress

Concerned about AfD rhetoric, the Protestant Church won't allow the far-right politicians on stage at an upcoming event.
ReligionSeptember 26, 2018
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Do German media, state have a left-wing bias?

The far-right Alternative for Germany party continues to accuse reporters and politicians of favoring the left.
PoliticsSeptember 26, 2018
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Keep your nerve, Germany!

Jens Thurau
With the AfD polling ahead of the SPD for the first time, Germany's political establishment must show strength.
PoliticsSeptember 21, 2018
Hans-Georg Maaßen und Horst Seehofer

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The head of Germany's secret service, Hans-Georg Maassen, was fired during the week. Angela Merkel's governing coalition decided to transfer him to a higher post. To discuss, Keith Walker is joined by DW political correspondent Thomas Sparrow.
PoliticsSeptember 21, 201805:27 min
Angela Merkel

Far-right AfD second only to Merkel's CDU

A poll shows Germany's ruling coalition continuing to lose voter support, with the populist AfD as the main beneficiary.
PoliticsSeptember 21, 2018