Alternative for Germany

Alternative for Germany (AfD) is a German political party founded in 2013. It is known for nationalist, anti-immigration, and right-wing populist positions.

Eurozone crisis: A period of sovereign-debt and banking crises in several euro-area countries, most acute from 2010 to 2012. Opposition to euro-area bailouts helped create the political opening for the AfD.
Political party: An organized group that seeks political power by nominating candidates and promoting policies. The AfD competes for office through Germany’s representative and federal institutions.
Christian Democratic Union of Germany: A German center-right political party with a Christian-democratic tradition. The AfD challenges the CDU from its right while competing for conservative voters.
Coalition government: A government formed by multiple political parties that share executive power. Other parties’ refusal to govern with the AfD shapes which parliamentary majorities are possible.
Alternative for Germany youth organization: The AfD’s youth organization, which has operated under changing names and organizational arrangements. Its relationship to the party and scrutiny by security agencies raise questions about internal influence.
European sovereign-debt crisis: A crisis in which several European governments faced severe difficulty financing public debt after 2009. The AfD’s founding debate centered on Germany’s financial support for indebted euro-area states.
Bundestag: Germany’s federal parliament, elected by voters and responsible for legislation and government oversight. AfD representation there gives the party a national platform and parliamentary tools.
The Left (Germany): A German democratic socialist political party formed in 2007. The Left offers a contrasting left-wing opposition to mainstream economic and foreign policy.
Firewall against the far right: A political practice of refusing cooperation with far-right parties, especially in government or parliamentary votes. The AfD has made the durability and limits of this practice a recurring German debate.
German reunification: The 1990 incorporation of the German Democratic Republic into the Federal Republic of Germany. The AfD’s especially strong support in eastern Germany prompts debate about reunification’s lasting political effects.

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