A majority of Germans currently oppose coalitions involving the AfD. According to a survey conducted by the opinion research institute Forsa for “Stern” and RTL, 58 percent of respondents are against political cooperation with the right-populist party. Furthermore, 39 percent oppose the relaxation of the so-called “firewall” (Brandmauer). Three percent of respondents answered that they did not know.
Support for AfD coalitions varies by region. While a clear majority of 61 percent voiced opposition to local government formations with the AfD in the West, a narrow majority in the East holds a differing view; here, 53 percent believe that other parties should pursue government coalitions with the AfD in the future. Conversely, among supporters of the AfD, 91 percent currently believe that other parties should cooperate politically with their party. Similarly, a large majority of supporters of all other parties represented in the Bundestag reject forming coalitions with the AfD.
The firewall, however, is not static: in June 2023, a much higher percentage of citizens-73 percent-had rejected AfD coalitions, with only 22 percent supporting cooperation at that time.
For this survey, Forsa polled 1,006 Germans spanning July 16 and 17, 2026.
