Is Germany's firewall against the far right crumbling?
Summary
CBC’s Jessica Singer reports from Saxony-Anhalt on the AfD’s surge, testing Germany’s post-war firewall against extremist parties. The episode examines the party’s radical rhetoric, including anti-immigration policies and historical revisionism, and features interviews with supporters and anxious minorities. It highlights the political stakes of a potential AfD state victory and its implications for national democracy.
Topics discussed
Intro: AFD leads polls in Saxony-Anhalt election
History of AFD: From anti-Euro to radicalization
Why AFD is classified as extremist by intelligence agencies
The 'Firewall' strategy to block extremist parties
Saxony-Anhalt demographics and voter concerns
Ulrich Sigmund: The AFD's charismatic leader
AFD manifesto: Culture, family, and 'rainbow ideology'
Young supporters and dissatisfaction with mainstream politics
Re-migration policies and impact on immigrants
Rewriting history and attacking the Bauhaus movement
Fear among minorities and the queer community
National implications and risks to German democracy
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