Merz ally challenges Germany’s far-right firewall ahead of crucial state elections
News Politics Merz ally challenges Germany’s far-right firewall ahead of crucial state elections The far-right AfD is set to perform well in elections in September in its political heartland in the eastern part of the country. “Anyone who still talks about firewalls hasn’t recognized the signs of the times,” Kretschmer, who leads a minority government in Saxony, told the Handelsblatt newspaper in an interview earlier this week. “We need to talk to anyone who wants to talk.” Advertisement Advertisement With those comments, Kretschmer stirred up tensions that Merz has stubbornly sought to avoid.
- ▪News Politics Merz ally challenges Germany’s far-right firewall ahead of crucial state elections The far-right AfD is set to perform well in elections in September in its political heartland in the eastern part of the country.
- ▪“Anyone who still talks about firewalls hasn’t recognized the signs of the times,” Kretschmer, who leads a minority government in Saxony, told the Handelsblatt newspaper in an interview earlier this week.
- ▪“We need to talk to anyone who wants to talk.” Advertisement Advertisement With those comments, Kretschmer stirred up tensions that Merz has stubbornly sought to avoid.
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News Politics Merz ally challenges Germany’s far-right firewall ahead of crucial state elections The far-right AfD is set to perform well in elections in September in its political heartland in the eastern part of the country. Copy Link Copied Share via email Share on X Share on WhatsApp Share on LinkedIn "Anyone who still talks about firewalls hasn't recognized the signs of the times," said Michael Kretschmer. | Sean Gallup/Getty Images July 24, 2026 4:00 am CET By Nette Nöstlinger BERLIN — A key ally of Friedrich Merz has ignited a major political debate by suggesting the chancellor’s centrist conservatives should break a taboo and cooperate with the country’s most popular party: the far-right Alternative for Germany.
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