AfD is a 'West German Party,' Former Minister-President Haseloff Claims, Criticizing Media Coverage

Magdeburg, Germany – Reiner Haseloff, the former Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt, has ignited a debate about the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He argues that focusing solely on the East as the source of the AfD's strength is a mischaracterization, asserting that the party is fundamentally a "West German party."

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What has gone wrong in West Germany in recent years and decades? Why have many important issues only been discussed on the fringes by the elites?

Haseloff, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), stated in an interview with the German Press Agency (dpa) that the AfD's leadership is largely composed of West Germans and that the party enjoys significant support in western states. He contends that the media's persistent "East German perspective" on the AfD, often portraying it as a phenomenon solely of the former East, is counterproductive and reinforces the party's appeal in the East.

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The AfD is a West German party. It emerged from the West German elite, the leading figures are almost all West Germans, and it is also clearly ahead of all other parties in the West.

"What has gone wrong in West Germany in recent years and decades? Why have many important issues only been discussed on the fringes by the elites?" Haseloff questioned, calling for a broader discussion originating from East Germany. He criticized what he described as a "self-flagellation" by German society, fueled by negative media headlines that paint a consistently bleak picture. This, he believes, makes it easier for the AfD to promise radical change.

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The media there has almost exclusively a Western view of the so-called 'Ossi.' The view of the 'Ossi' from a West German perspective ultimately reinforces the AfD in the East.

Furthermore, Haseloff expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the term "firewall" (Brandmauer), a political strategy to isolate the AfD. He suggested that civil society groups should more actively highlight the real-world consequences of AfD policies, such as the potential loss of economic benefits derived from European Union membership. Haseloff, who served as Minister-President until January 2026, believes such direct communication is crucial to counter the AfD's narrative.

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I have never considered the term 'firewall' to be helpful.