In the heart of Europe, a political earthquake is reshaping the landscape of one of the continent’s most influential nations. Germany, long considered a bastion of stability and centrism, finds itself at a crossroads as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) becomes the second-largest party in the country following the February 2025 elections.
This shift, fuelled by a potent mix of social media mastery, high-profile endorsements, and growing disillusionment with traditional politics and media, has sent shockwaves through the European Union and beyond. This story goes far beyond Germany’s borders, but is one that challenges our understanding of modern democracy, the power of digital media, and the future of global alliances.
Traditional media’s dilemma
As the Alternative for Germany (AfD) gains increasing prominence in German politics, traditional media outlets find themselves grappling with how to approach reporting on a party that has been classified as a “proven right-wing extremist” organisation by the domestic intelligence agency in three out of 16 federal states. The challenge of providing balanced, responsible coverage whilst avoiding an inadvertent legitimisation of extremist views has become a central dilemma for journalists and editors across the country.
The television debate between AfD’s Björn Höcke and Christian Democrat Mario Voigt in December 2024 sparked heated debates about the appropriateness of such platforms and whether they serve to normalise extreme views. These discussions have prompted a number of suggestions about how to go forward, for example the German Journalists Association (DJV) has suggested using clear warning labels in all articles about the AfD, akin to health risk warnings on cigarette packets. This approach aims to provide context about the party’s classification as a right-wing extremist organisation.
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Photo by Markus Winkler.