A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Turning Point or Plateau? The Alternative for Germany at a Crossroads after the 2025 Election




AuthorsHansen, Michael A.; Olsen, Jonathan

Publication year2026

Journal: German Politics and Society

Volume44

Issue1

First page 69

Last page83

ISSN1045-0300

eISSN1558-5441

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3167/gps.2026.440104

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingNo Open Access

Publication channel's open availability No Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.3167/gps.2026.440104


Abstract

This article examines the Alternative for Germany's (AfD) position following the 2025 federal election, considering whether the party is entering a stage of decline, sustaining its previous support, or moving toward greater ascendancy. The analysis assesses changes in voter demographics, regional dynamics, and issue salience to identify patterns of continuity or transformation in the party's base. We also define potential future issues, including continued dissatisfaction with the previous Ampel coalition and the grand coalition that replaced it, backlash against the end of the debt brake, and the perceived weakness of Friedrich Merz as a leader. In light of recent efforts to classify the AfD as an extremist party, the article evaluates how the party's evolving strategy and public perception may influence its capacity to shape party competition and national policymaking. Finally, it explores whether the AfD's post-2025 trajectory signals a tipping point in the normalization of far-right politics in Germany or a plateau in its influence, with broader implications for democratic stability in advanced democracies.



Last updated on 16/04/2026 11:05:19 AM