Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stepped out of her usual political silence — and delivered one of her sharpest warnings yet. In a rare interview, Merkel urged Germany’s mainstream parties to resist pressure, influence, and political gamesmanship from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), now one of the country’s strongest political forces.
A Dramatic Rebuke to Germany’s Mainstream Parties
Speaking to the public broadcaster Phoenix, Merkel cautioned that established parties — including her own Christian Democratic Union (CDU) — must not allow the AfD to shape their positions or agendas.
“Seeking a governing majority with the AfD is impossible based on how they define themselves,” Merkel stated bluntly.
She emphasized that she would never cooperate with parties that reject liberal democracy, oppose the European Union, or take a pro-Kremlin stance starkly opposed to her own foreign policy views.
The warning comes amid growing concern across Germany: recent polls show the AfD neck-and-neck with the CDU/CSU, and in some states even leading.
Addressing Controversy Over Ukraine Comments
Merkel also pushed back against claims that she blamed Poland and the Baltic states for contributing to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Dismissing it as a “misinterpretation,” she insisted that responsibility was collective:
“We all failed — myself included — in preventing this war,” she said.
Her remarks reflect a rare moment of introspection from the former leader, who left office in 2021 and has since largely avoided engaging in day-to-day political debate.
A Message to SPD and CDU Alike
Merkel’s comments were aimed not only at her political opponents, but also at allies within Germany’s traditional power blocs, including the Social Democrats (SPD) and her own CDU/CSU alliance. She urged them to stand firmly by democratic values — and to craft policy independently rather than chasing far-right rhetoric for votes.
Growing Pressure in German Politics
With the AfD rising and political fragmentation deepening, Merkel’s intervention signals that Germany’s internal stability — long taken for granted — is facing its most serious test in years.
Her message was unmistakable: protect democratic norms, uphold European unity, and refuse to bend to extremist narratives — no matter how loud they get.