Saxony’s Minister-President, Michael Kretschmer (CDU), has issued strong warnings about what he calls the erosion of the “firewall.” Speaking to Spiegel, he stated that measures must be taken to ensure that the AfD never gains power or responsibilities. According to Kretschmer, this firewall only serves to delay the situation; it buys time but does not solve the underlying problem.
He compared this concept to firewalls found in buildings, explaining that these barriers are designed to prevent a fire from spreading to other parts of the structure for a period of time. Kretschmer attributed the AfD’s success partly to poor political handling. He argued that the firewall would only be successful if politics could change course in time. “If not, the firewall burns through. We are seeing that right now,” he noted. “Everywhere, the firewall is burning through.”
It is important to clarify that his concern is not directed at CDU politicians who have cooperated with the AfD. Instead, he refers to areas where the AfD is increasingly winning elections, often securing over 50 percent of the vote. In these regions, the AfD has established itself and is no longer reliant on the support of other parties.
