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The firewall against the far-right ("Brandmauer" in German, used as metaphor) is a political concept, a demand and a strategy related to the approach of civil society and political parties towards far-right political parties. In Germany, it is especially discussed in the context of the relationship between the AfD (in some cases also the Die Heimat, former: NPD) and other political parties. [1][2][3] The aim is not to support anti-democrative political actors and to limit the rapproachment of democratic parties to far-right positions. Concretely, that would meen not to cooperate in any way with far-right political parties to which the AfD may be counted.

The term is used as slogan ("We are the firewall!", "Wir sind die Brandmauer!")[4] in public debates about the adequate reaction of political actors regarding uprising right-wing populist, antidemocratic and far-right politics tendencies in Germany. The widespread 2024 German anti-extremism protests[5] with hundreds of thousands protesters lead to an increased public debate about how the firewall against the far-right should be concretely be maintained.[6]

Some members of the German parliament from the CDU suggested, that their party should "take away the topics of the AfD"[7][8] in order to weaken the AfD. However, new research from political scientists suggests that radical right parties (RRP) do not lose support when other parties accomodate and appropriate the typical far-right topics.[9] On the contrary, the scholar's finding was that radical right parties do indeed profit, when other parties make the far-right's framing's seem socialy acceptable and sound, legitimazing controversial statements.[10][11]

The discussion regarding the non-cooperation with far-right German parties is also affected by the debate on how to handle far-right parties on the european level after the 2024 European Parliament elections .[12][13][14][15]

Use of the term "Firewall"

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A variety of political actors uses the term - sometimes in very different ways - from civil society organisations such as, social movements such as, political parties such as.

Demands from civil society actors

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The Hashtag #WeAreTheFirewall (in German #WirSindDieBrandmauer) is used by the German Network "Hand in hand", which is active against the "strengthening of the extreme right in Germany and Europe" and the "normalization of right-wing policies and discourse" [16]. They argue that democracy must be protected in the face of extreme right-wing fantasies of deportations and seizure of power.

Ethymology & historical use of the term

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Debate in public media

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Scientific research on the firewall concept

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Mainstream politicians' statements erode norms of tolerance more than those of radical-right politicians, likely due to less backlash from left-wing individuals. This highlights the influential role of mainstream figures in shaping democratic norms. [17]

Reasons for a firewall against the far-right

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The rise of the far-right AfD underscores the importance of maintaining a robust firewall against extremist ideologies. The AfD's increasing electoral success[18], particularly in regions like Thuringia[19], highlights the normalization of xenophobic and anti-democratic rhetoric. Instances such as the re-election of Roland Schliewe, who made discriminatory remarks about North Africans, and the support for candidates with ties to Nazi and Ku Klux Klan symbols, illustrate this trend[20]. The party's opposition to immigration and environmental policies[21] further fuels social division and hostility, threatening Germany's democratic values and social cohesion. These developments stress the need for vigilant checks and balances to protect democratic institutions and societal harmony.

Political scientist Prof. Dr. Simon Franzmann noted that Germany must coexist with right-wing populist parties containing far-right elements for the foreseeable future. [22] This reality highlights the importance of a robust firewall to safeguard democratic values and prevent the normalization of extremist ideologies - German political scientist Benjamin Höhne adds.[23]

Forms of firewall-measures

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One possible measure is to ensure the indepence of the German constitutional court by strengheting it's legal basis, making changes only possible with a two thirds majority instead of a simple majority[24].

Regaring the way of dealing with far-right actors in local boards, Giesbers et al 2021 suggested multiple measures, reaching from measures to take before the first meeting, internal agreements and networking, intergroup coordination, the constituent meeting, public statements, regaring how to elect people to offices, committees and positions, the everyday committee work and also tips for dealing with far-rights personally and dealing with motions wisely.[25] As a concrete measure for mainting a firewall towards the far-right on a local level, they proposed the following concrete actions to take:

  • "In local council work, the following should be observed:
  • No joint proposals should be submitted with right-wing factions.
  • No motions from right-wing factions should be accepted.
  • Own proposals should be formulated in a way that prevents support from right-wing parties.
  • Approaches and applause from right-wing factions should be rejected through situational distancing.
  • No joint statements involving right-wing factions should be issued.
  • No personnel nominations from or supported by right-wing factions should be accepted.
  • No joint factions should be formed.
  • No joint press conferences should be held.
  • Leftist premises should not be rented out.
  • No joint events should be organized." [25]

Critics - reasons against a firewall against the far-right

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Some people critizice the concept of a political firewall, saying it would be undemocratic. [26] For example, in february 2024, a protest sign with "Democracy without firewall" was used on a protest in Lübben after being accused being Nazis.[27] The city was in headlines previously due to far-right extremist activities.[28][29][30]

Existing forms of cooperation with far-right actors

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Scholars from the left-wing Rosa Luxemburg Foundation published a study in March 2024 named "Will the firewall hold? - Study on cooperation with the extreme right in East German municipalities"[31]. They uncovered 121 concrete cases in which democratic parties cooperated with far-right parties on municipality level in former Eastern German countries in the period of summer 2019 until the end of 2023 [32]. Their key finding was that among all major political parties the CDU has the highest number of cooperations with AfD, mainly by having voted in favor of motions from the AfD [32][33]. When it comes to the forms of cooperation with the AfD, the authors named joint voting behavior (AfD initiative), joint voting behavior (others), joint election of persons and counting groups, joint motion, other, joint parliamentary group, agreement (in the order of most to least occured). The frequent collaboration underscores the need for strong barriers to prevent the normalization of far-right ideologies in local governance.[34]

Media covered cases in which democratic parties voted for notions of the AfD in Sachsen, for instance in the district council of Bautzen[35]. MDR Investigativ contacted all central German districts and independent cities to inquire whether AfD motions obtained majority support in their local parliaments in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. The findings reveal that in at least 18 out of 50 parliaments, substantive AfD motions passed, largely facilitated by votes from other parties, notably the CDU.[36]

Official political stance of other parties & ongoing discussions

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Linke

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The thuringian state branch of The Left asserts a firm stance against any cooperation with far-right, fascist, or anti-democratic entities, categorizing any alignment with the AfD as collaboration and threatening party expulsion for members involved.[37]

Grüne

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Individual local party representatives seemed critical about the party's position, promoting a more pragmatic approach, positioning themselves against a too harsh categorial guideline.[38].

SPD

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The SPD party in the national parliament has a working group named "strategies against right-extremism" [39]. The firewall against the far-right was one of the core topics of the SPD during the election campaing for the 2024 European Parliament election in Germany[40][41]

CDU

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The CDU officially has an incompability stance regarding coalitions and similar forms of cooperation with the AfD and at the same time The Left (Germany) since 2018[42][43]. In May 2024, Daniel Günther (CDU), minister president of Schleswig-Holstein, argued the The Left (Germany) and the Alternative for Germany cannot not be equated[44].

Political scientist Constantin Wurthmann shows that potential CDU/CSU voters don't want any rapprochement towards or cooperations with the AfD, while "a very small proportion of particularly conservative respondents welcome an opening towards the AfD" .[45]

CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann said 2023: "There are proven Nazis in this party, I don't want to have anything to do with them." [46]

Friedrich Merz, the chairman of the CDU posted on X, formelly Twitter: "There will be no cooperation between the CDU and the AfD at the municipal level either,”[47]

In an interview with German TV-chanel Die Welt on July 1 2024, Thorsten Frei, member of the CDU in the German parliament and First Parliamentary Secretary of CDU, was asked how his party reacts to the the AfD wanting to become the strongest force nationwide[48] and whether the CDU/CSU would have enough to counter this. He said: "Yes, of course we have enough to oppose. But what has also become clear is that this party is to be taken seriously. And it's not enough to put them in a dirty corner, we have to actually take them head-on with the substantive issues. [...] We are well prepared and we will take up the fight." [49] He highlights violence from left-wing activists as dangerous for democracy[50]. He stated in an interview in March 2024 that „collaboration with the AfD in the parliamentary sector is fundamentally out of the question for us.“ [51]. After his party was heavely critized for passing a law in Thuringia together with votes from the AfD[52], Thorsten Frei stated in a response to a question from a citizen on abgeordnetenwatch.de: "However, it would be completely wrong to pretend that the CDU is promoting normal interaction with the AfD. The opposite is the case. This party is largely right-wing extremist." [53]. His party colleague Andreas Rödder argued that the vote in parliament was part of a normal political procedure and "If the CDU cannot fulfill its role in opposition to prevent AfD participation, it could paralyze the democratic-right center in the long run."[54].

Other CDU politicans don't see a problem when the CDU supports motions of the AfD. Kerstin Friesenhahn for instance, CDU politician in the Stralsund parliament, stated to ZDF: "You have to look at the applications themselves. And only then think about it: Is this something good for the city or is it nothing good. Regardless of the party." [55].

When it comes to concrete cases on the local level, German broadcaster ZDF for instance covered a case in Krauschwitz, where "instead of coffee, beer is preferred after meetings with AfD colleagues" [56]. CDU council member Mario Mackowiak remarked on their cooperation in the local council: "We have zero firewall." [57].

FDP

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The Federal Executive Board of the Free Democratic Party (Germany) made a decision for a "Firewall against the AfD" in 2020, stating: "As Free Democrats, we advocate a centrist policy. It is our fundamental belief that there must be a firewall against the right. Therefore, we reaffirm our categorical rejection of cooperating with the AfD or accepting any form of dependency on them at any level." [58]

In an interview with the FAZ, Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP), emphasizes his belief that a firewall must be maintained with a party like the AfD, stating that coordinated cooperation, including agreements or coalitions, is not possible.[59]

References

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  1. ^ "Germany's far-right 'firewall' cracks". POLITICO. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  2. ^ "Die Brandmauer zur AfD hat viele Löcher – DW – 16.03.2024". dw.com (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  3. ^ ""Es braucht eine Brandmauer gegenüber der AFD" Interview mit Dr. Benjamin Höhne". miami.uni-muenster.de (in German). 2023. doi:10.17879/27998590557. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  4. ^ Cabo, Almudena de (2024-02-03). "Thousands surround the German Parliament against the far right: "We are the firewall"". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  5. ^ ""Brandmauer" in Berlin: Protest gegen Rechtsextremismus". ZDFheute (in German). 2024-02-03. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  6. ^ "'We are the firewall': Thousands protest against far-right in Germany". euronews. 2024-02-19. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  7. ^ "Alexander Hoffmann: Der AfD die Themen nehmen! | CSU-Landesgruppe". www.csu-landesgruppe.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  8. ^ "Nach AfD-Parteitag in Essen: „Reicht nicht, AfD in Schmuddelecke zu stellen. Müssen sie mit inhaltlichen Themen frontal nehmen" - Video - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  9. ^ Krause W, Cohen D, Abou-Chadi T. Does accommodation work? Mainstream party strategies and the success of radical right parties. Political Science Research and Methods. 2023;11(1):172-179. https://doi.org/10.1017/psrm.2022.8
  10. ^ mdr.de. "Umgang mit der AfD: Kann die Übernahme rechter Politiken Wahlerfolge verschaffen? | MDR.DE". www.mdr.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  11. ^ mdr.de. "Umgang mit der AfD: Kann die Übernahme rechter Politiken Wahlerfolge verschaffen? | MDR.DE". www.mdr.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  12. ^ "Brandmauer gegen Rechtsaußen-Fraktion im EU-Parlament gefordert". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  13. ^ "EU-Parlament: Sozialdemokraten und Grüne fordern Brandmauer gegen neue Rechtsaußen-Fraktion - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  14. ^ "EU-Parlamentarier fordern Brandmauer gegen Rechts". BR24 (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  15. ^ Mönch, Axel (2023). "Duell im Europaparlament". agrarzeitung. 78 (9): 1–1. doi:10.51202/1869-9707-2023-9-001. ISSN 1869-9707.
  16. ^ "Über uns - Hand in Hand" (in German). 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  17. ^ "OSF". osf.io. doi:10.31219/osf.io/mjbnf. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  18. ^ Bildung, Bundeszentrale für politische (2022-12-02). "Wahlergebnisse und Wählerschaft der AfD | Parteien in Deutschland". bpb.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  19. ^ "Ergebnisse Thüringen - Die Bundeswahlleiterin". www.bundeswahlleiterin.de. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  20. ^ Marsh, Sarah; Rinke, Andreas (31 May 2024). "Far right AfD cracks Germany's post-Nazi firewalls with success in the east". Reuters. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Wahlprogramm der AfD zur Europawahl 2024 Zusammenfassung". Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Württemberg. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 41 (help); line feed character in |website= at position 38 (help)
  22. ^ Cabo, Almudena de (2024-02-03). "Thousands surround the German Parliament against the far right: "We are the firewall"". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  23. ^ ""Es braucht eine Brandmauer gegenüber der AFD" Interview mit Dr. Benjamin Höhne". miami.uni-muenster.de (in German). 2023. doi:10.17879/27998590557. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  24. ^ "Im Visier der Rechtsextremen: Wie lässt sich unsere Justiz schützen? – Eine Analyse". www.fr.de (in German). 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  25. ^ a b Giesbers, Tilo; Taschke, Anika; Hauke, Cash; Piechura, Philipp; Seidel, Ingolf. (June 2021). Rät*innen gegen Rechts Umgang mit Rechten in kommunalen Gremien. Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung https://www.rosalux.de/publikation/id/40148/raetinnen-gegen-rechts
  26. ^ Andrick, Michael (2024-07-01). "AfD und BSW: Warum die Idee einer Brandmauer undemokratisch ist". Berliner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  27. ^ "Demo in Lübben: Angriff auf Politik und Medien – Redner wehren sich gegen Nazi-Vorwurf | Lausitzer Rundschau". www.lr-online.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  28. ^ "Nazi-Polizist posiert in SS-Uniform: Brauner Spuk im Spreewald". bild.de (in German). 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  29. ^ "Nazi-Aufmarsch: Rechte und Linke demonstrieren in Lübben". Tagesspiegel. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  30. ^ mo (2006-04-26). "Der Jugendclub, der »Heil Hitler« heißt". BERATUNG FÜR BETROFFENE RECHTER GEWALT (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  31. ^ "Die Brandmauer zur AfD hat viele Löcher – DW – 16.03.2024". dw.com (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  32. ^ a b Hummel, S. & Taschke, A. (2024, März). Hält die Brandmauer? Studie zu Kooperationen mit der extremen Rechten in ostdeutschen Kommunen. Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung. Abgerufen am 5. Juli 2024, von https://www.rosalux.de/publikation/id/51762/haelt-die-brandmauer-1
  33. ^ Leipzig, chronik LE-Engagierte Wissenschaft e V. – Ecksteinstraße 29 – 04277 (2024-05-05). "Podcast-Folge 31: Hält die (kommunale) Brandmauer?". chronikle.org (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ "Warum es in Kommunen eine Brandmauer gegen rechts braucht". Demo (in German). 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  35. ^ mdr.de. "Zusammenarbeit mit AfD gibt es in Kommunen schon lange | MDR.DE". www.mdr.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  36. ^ mdr.de. "Zusammenarbeit mit AfD gibt es in Kommunen schon lange | MDR.DE". www.mdr.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  37. ^ mdr.de. "Zusammenarbeit mit AfD gibt es in Kommunen schon lange | MDR.DE". www.mdr.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  38. ^ von Marschall, Christoph (3 August 2023). "Update Ricarda Langs Brandmauer zur AfD: Wenn sich auf einmal grüne Kommunalpolitiker auf die Seite von Friedrich Merz schlagen". Tagesspiegel.de. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  39. ^ "Arbeitsgruppe Strategien gegen Rechtsextremismus". SPD-Bundestagsfraktion (in German). 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  40. ^ Rödle, Moritz. "Die SPD hat die Brandmauer gegen rechts als Wahlkampfthema entdeckt". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  41. ^ Vorreiter, Paul. "Hat SPD-Spitzenkandidatin Barley im zweiten Anlauf mehr Erfolg?". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  42. ^ "Abgrenzung zur AfD: So bröckelt die CDU-Brandmauer". ZDFheute (in German). 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  43. ^ "Unsere Haltung zu Linkspartei und AfD" (PDF). CDU Deutschlands. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  44. ^ "CDU: Günther gegen Gleichsetzung von Linkspartei und AfD". Süddeutsche.de (in German). 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  45. ^ Wurthmann, L. Constantin (2023). "Kooperation oder Abgrenzung? Einstellungen zum oppositionellen Umgang der CDU/CSU mit der Linken und der AfD". Zeitschrift für Parlamentsfragen. 54 (1): 69–86. doi:10.5771/0340-1758-2023-1-69. ISSN 0340-1758.
  46. ^ "Abgrenzung zur AfD: So bröckelt die CDU-Brandmauer". ZDFheute (in German). 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  47. ^ Merz, Friedrich (24 July 2023). "Um es noch einmal klarzustellen, und ich habe es nie anders gesagt: Die Beschlusslage der @CDU gilt. Es wird auch auf kommunaler Ebene keine Zusammenarbeit der #CDU mit der AfD geben". x.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  48. ^ WELT Nachrichtensender (2024-07-01). AFD PARTEITAG IN ESSEN: Tino Chruppala will "irgendwann auch deutschlandweit stärkste Kraft" sein. Retrieved 2024-07-09 – via YouTube.
  49. ^ "Nach AfD-Parteitag in Essen: „Reicht nicht, AfD in Schmuddelecke zu stellen. Müssen sie mit inhaltlichen Themen frontal nehmen" - Video - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  50. ^ "Was gedenken Sie gegen den Zustand der Ruine 'Brandmauer' zu tun? | Frage an Thorsten Frei (CDU)". www.abgeordnetenwatch.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  51. ^ "Bezahlkarte für Asylbewerber: Wie die Sachsen-CDU der AfD in die Falle läuft - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  52. ^ deutschlandfunk.de. "Thüringen - AfD, CDU und die Diskussion um die Brandmauer". Deutschlandfunk (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  53. ^ "Was gedenken Sie gegen den Zustand der Ruine 'Brandmauer' zu tun? | Frage an Thorsten Frei (CDU)". www.abgeordnetenwatch.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  54. ^ deutschlandfunk.de. "Thüringen - Kontroverse über mögliche Abstimmung von CDU und FDP mit AfD". Die Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  55. ^ "Abgrenzung zur AfD: So bröckelt die CDU-Brandmauer". ZDFheute (in German). 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  56. ^ "Abgrenzung zur AfD: So bröckelt die CDU-Brandmauer". ZDFheute (in German). 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  57. ^ "Abgrenzung zur AfD: So bröckelt die CDU-Brandmauer". ZDFheute (in German). 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  58. ^ "Beschluss des Bundesvorstands: Brandmauer gegen die AfD | FDP". www.fdp.de (in German). 2020-02-07. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  59. ^ Deutschland, RedaktionsNetzwerk (2024-04-21). "Justizminister Marco Buschmann zu Brandmauer zur AfD: Keine Zusammenarbeit möglich". www.rnd.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
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