General
German 'Firewall' Falters After Far-Right Victory: 'Signs of the Times Not Understood'
Debate has arisen within Germany’s CDU party about whether to maintain the cordon sanitaire against the far-right AfD after the party’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt. Following the defeat, more CDU members argue that the 'Brandmauer'—a political firewall established in 2018 to isolate the AfD—has backfired. Critics claim the strategy failed to address current societal trends, with some stating, 'Signs of the times were not understood.' The discussion reflects growing uncertainty about how to respond to the AfD’s electoral gains.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's