Context:

Germany's new government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democrats, faces a formidable challenge in addressing the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has recently gained significant political traction. The AfD, now declared an extremist group by Germany's domestic intelligence service, threatens to disrupt the coalition's agenda with its antithetical views on migration and establishment politics. Despite the potential legal actions against the AfD, such as restricting funding and removing members from civil-service roles, the government's narrow majority necessitates careful navigation of parliamentary procedures. The situation is further complicated by internal divisions within the Christian Democrats over how to handle the AfD's influence and potential collaboration on shared policies. As the AfD strengthens its position, the coalition must maintain discipline to uphold its agenda amidst the political maneuvers and possible alliances that may arise in the coming years.

Dive Deeper:

• The Social Democrats, historically occupying the Otto Wels Hall in the German Parliament, face losing this symbolic space to the AfD after a poor performance in recent elections where the AfD claimed second place.

• Chancellor Friedrich Merz's initial failure to secure enough votes for his appointment highlights the fragility of his coalition and raises doubts about effectively confronting the AfD, especially after the party was labeled extremist by the intelligence service.

• The legal complexity of banning the AfD poses a significant challenge, as the party has initiated a lawsuit against the intelligence service, delaying any possible court proceedings to prohibit its activities.

• Parliamentary traditions in Germany grant leading opposition parties like the AfD certain roles, which creates a dilemma for the coalition, balancing between isolating the party and inadvertently enhancing its victim narrative.

• Jens Spahn, a prominent Christian Democrat, argues against completely isolating the AfD, fearing it might bolster their narrative of persecution, yet the intelligence service's recent designation of the AfD as extremist intensifies calls for a stricter approach.

• The coalition considers options to limit the AfD's influence, such as cutting public funding and removing its members from civil-service positions, but these measures risk provoking further legal battles.

• As the AfD's popularity continues to grow, the coalition must remain cohesive and vigilant, avoiding internal conflicts that could lead to potential cooperation with the AfD on issues like spending and immigration, where their policies may overlap.