German politician calls for end to 'firewall' against far-right AfD

Claudia Wittig, a politician from the BSW party, argues in a Freitag op-ed that the 'Brandmauer' (firewall) against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is undemocratic and has backfired. She contends that the strategy of excluding the AfD from power has made the party stronger, particularly in eastern Germany, where in Saxony-Anhalt it is only a few percentage points away from an absolute majority. Wittig claims the firewall gave the AfD a special status that attracted voters who feel ignored by the political establishment. She also criticizes the ongoing debate about banning the AfD as a distraction by established parties fearing for their power.