The firewall is crumbling: Germany stands at a crossroads in an election where climate, activism and the far-right swirl
The country goes to the polls on 23 February in an election that will have ramifications far beyond its borders, Martha Bird reports for The Lead from Berlin
As Germany braces for a historic election on 23 February, left-wing activists have been out on the streets of Berlin grappling with existential questions about democracy, diversity and the future of their country.
Following the government’s collapse in November last year, the nation once synonymous with stability is now dealing with intense political and economic upheaval. Speaking to young people actively engaged in the leftist struggle, there is a palpable sense of acute fear, fragile hope and unwavering solidarity.
Since 1949, Germany’s coalition-based political system has aimed to foster consensus and guard against extremism. This held firm until Chancellor Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner in November, shattering the “traffic light coalition” of the SPD, Greens and FDP.
The fallout of the collapse has left Germany confronting what some economists call its greatest post-war crisis, with a looming recession, the lingering effects of the Russian energy crisis, and a faltering auto-industry compounding fears of political instability.
“Neoliberalism and austerity politics have shaped the lives of people for the last 20 years and have brought everyone to a point of resignation.” Jonas Huwalt, Die Linke campaign organiser told The Lead: “But now everybody’s getting so politicised - on the left and the far right. Politicised and polarised.”
This election - only the second since Angela Merkel’s departure - could dramatically redefine not only Germany’s future, but have ramifications across all of Europe. The main contenders include Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), the Christian Democrats (CDU) under Friedrich Merz, the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), the Greens, Die Linke (the Left Party), the newly formed Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The general consensus from campaigners on the outcome was summarised by climate activist Lena Libenau. He said: “I expect Friedrich Merz to become Chancellor and the AfD to secure at least 20%—even more in the East. It would be a success if Die Linke makes it into the Bundestag with 5%.”
Fellow climate advocate Henri Schmitz added: “I’d love to see the Left Party in parliament alongside a strong Green and SPD presence. But I’m expecting a ‘grand coalition’ between the CDU and SPD, with the Greens in opposition.”
Far Right Rise
“My biggest fear is a new era of fascism in Germany. In my hometown of Magdeburg we saw a 200% rise in racist violence since this time last year, “ said Robert Wetzel, organiser of the #LeaveNoOneBehind campaign, when speaking to The Lead. Like many raised in east Germany, he has witnessed the rise of the AfD first hand.
“Magdeburg saw the largest neo-Nazi demonstrations in the country, so I was always going to protest demos from a young age. Also, I was 12 years old when Rick Langstein, a guy who also went to my school, was murdered by a Neo-Nazi - only 2km away from my school.”
Political activist Nele Adolphsen expands on the current mood. He told The Lead: “Everyone I know is in a real state of anxiety. We’ve had three state-level elections in eastern Germany in 2024 where the AfD got around 30%, but now it feels even more dire. It’s only three weeks till the election, and parties are again caught up in a migration debate, pretending they can copy the AfD’s racist policies.”
For Franka Ackermann, left-wing political agitator, the imminent danger of the far right lies in the mainstreaming of their rhetoric - sentiments shared in much of the Western world and hardly alleviated by the start to Trump’s presidency in the US.
“German politics is looking very dark,” she told The Lead, “Not just because of the AfD’s success, but because of the established parties adopting their rhetoric and policies.”
Linda Braun, EU social and climate lobbyist and pro-democracy guerilla activist, agrees.
“I thought we had enough understanding of our nation’s history to never bring fascism back - it’s insanely scary… As a queer person on the trans-spectrum, I’m terrified. As a biological woman, I’m terrified… And in the eyes of climate change, I’m terrified. I’m numb with fear for what’s about to happen. We’ve seen what this country is capable of doing... I just hope we can steer it around and can fight back against fascism.”
The concept of a “firewall” (Brandmauer) is a policy in Germany which, due to their National Socialist history, is meant to exclude far right parties from entering government coalitions. This policy has been central to German politics and German political identity, but the firewall appears to be crumbling.
On 29 January, for the first time in the history of the Bundestag, the CDU passed a motion which accepted AfD support, completely undermining the firewall. Merkel came out with a rare statement of condemnation, lawmakers shouted ‘Shame on you’ in parliament, and protesters took to the streets.
Thea, a political analyst involved in founding Students Against Racism, said: “My biggest fear is democratic backsliding. Germany could follow Austria or even Hungary. My hope is that the firewall holds—we need it.”
Henri feels similarly adding: “I just hope the ‘Brandmauer’ will be upheld… There are enough fascist governments in Europe as it is.”
The new rise of the German far-right
Many trace the current political climate back to the 2015 refugee crisis and the rise of the far-right Pegida movement (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West). The movement mobilised anti-migrant sentiment across Germany, radicalising both sides of the political spectrum.
“I grew up in Magdeburg, where Pegida protests were held every Monday,” said Thea. “A lot of Nazis and far-right groups gathered, and it was clear we had to counter them. Sometimes, their numbers were bigger than ours, which made showing up feel even more urgent.”
Tolerade, a Dresden-based alliance, emerged as a cultural counterforce to Pegida. In 2024, it organised one of the largest demonstrations in Saxony since the Peaceful Revolution in 1989, with over 15,000 participants.
“We couldn’t sway the election,” said organiser Sebastian Grammi, “but we sent a strong message that many here reject the far-right agenda.”
Nele also referenced this moment as pivotal for her politicisation. He said: “My first moments of political consciousness related to the 2015 so-called ‘refugee-crisis’ and the growth of the Afd and Pegida at the time… Although my first real involvement as an organiser was within the climate justice movement.”
Climate Activism
Alongside the galvanising force of the refugee crisis, the urgency of the climate crisis also marks a significant moment for young German activists.
“My first political involvement was during the 2015 migration crisis,” said Franka. #
“But my most significant moment was in 2018 at an Ende Gelände protest, occupying coal mines for climate justice. It was empowering to chant, ‘We are unstoppable, another world is possible.’ Of course this enthusiasm was quickly curbed by experiences of severe police violence…”
Lena added: “I went to my first demonstrations against Pegida and the start of the AfD as a teenager in West Germany. But I really started to get involved in activism fighting for feminism and climate justice…
“I remember really huge climate strikes during the peak of Fridays for Future in Berlin in 2019 and some really exciting Extinction Rebellion actions. It felt like there was suddenly a common understanding that climate change is a problem that needs to be addressed urgently.”
However, disappointment with the Greens’ performance in government has disillusioned many in the environmental campaign scene.
Where the Left is in Germany
With disappointment in the Greens and the split of the BSW party, momentum has finally shifted behind Die Linke, who are running an ambitious ground campaign. After facing a political nightmare last year, with their EU representation cut to 2.7%, a recent surge of new members and positive polling has reinvigorated Die Linke.
“Door knocking is at the core of our campaign," said Jonas Huwalt. ‘We based our election programme on the responses that real, working people gave. No party in Germany has ever done politics like this before.”
One of their actions includes a campaign to check renters’ warm water costs, which many landlords calculate illegally. Through this over 10,000 renters have received compensation.
“On the doorstep you realise that the key issues in Berlin are rent prices, gentrification and the cost of living. One of the most impactful moments I had was speaking to an old woman who told me her building had been bought by an investor and all the flats were turned into Airbnbs.
“She was too ill to be moved, legally, so she’s the only one who stayed. It was a Sunday and she told me I was the first person to properly speak to her the whole week. She told me she wants to die because it’s not a life worth living being so lonely... The profit interests are really ruining people’s lives.”
Jonas elaborated on his concerns for the future of his party.
“We’re fighting to reach the 5% threshold, but my biggest concern is for the volunteers and activists who have put everything into this campaign. If we don’t make it into parliament, will they stay involved? Because if the right wing wins, we’ll need them more than ever.”
Staying Motivated
Despite the threat of the far right, the crumbling firewall and the bleak economic situation, activists remain committed to solidarity and continued engagement.
“Political participation is vital,” said Thea. “History shows demonstrations and protests can make a difference—think of the Berlin Wall or Serbia now.”
Sebastian Grammi agrees, even as he braces for a difficult election.
“I'm motivated because I wanted to contribute something. I want to create a positive social environment and try to help people... It is the duty of a privileged person to pay something back to society.”
“We have to find comfort within our communities and take action where we can.” said Frank.
“And most importantly, speak up for what you believe in!”
There is fear and anxiety surrounding the election, activists like those interviewed here continue to fight for democracy, solidarity, and social justice. As 23 February approaches, Germany stands at a political crossroads—whether it veers toward progress or backslides into extremism remains to be seen.
About the author: Martha Bird is a writer, curator and filmmaker based between Berlin and Bologna. She is involved in activist communities and is currently covering German politics, building on her Master’s research on gender relations in the German Democratic Republic. She also freelances as a journalist for a wide range of European based publications, focusing her work predominantly on art-house cinema, feminist issues and left-wing politics.
At The Lead we mainly report on the UK but we also try to give you perspectives beyond our shores, especially when it comes to the far-right and their activities. This piece is part of The Drift where we keep a watching brief on the rise of the new far-right and the populism of Reform. Consider taking a paid subscription to support our writing by tapping below and many thanks to all those who already do.