TV critique: Is this the end of the 'firewall'?

Armin Laschet, a leading figure in Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), recently engaged in a spirited debate about the party's long-standing policy of refusing cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), often referred to as the "firewall."

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The methodology, how we tried to make the AfD small, including through formal exclusion, has failed.

During an appearance on Caren Miosga's talk show, Laschet articulated his view that the CDU's approach of formally excluding the AfD has proven ineffective. He suggested that elected AfD members should be treated with fairness, including in parliamentary committee assignments and during debates, to avoid them exploiting perceived disrespect for political gain. Laschet believes that a complete exclusion strategy has failed to diminish the AfD's influence.

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The elected representatives of the party must be treated 'fairly,' also with regard to the allocation of posts in committees or – very simply – speaking time.

Political scientist Christian Stecker, also present on the show, questioned the democratic theory behind the CDU's 2018 resolution, which prohibits coalitions and similar forms of cooperation with both the Left party and the AfD. The conversation highlighted the complexities and differing perspectives within the political landscape as the state of Saxony-Anhalt prepares for elections in less than two weeks, with the AfD showing significant gains in opinion polls, potentially exceeding 40 percent.

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The firewall is a non-word invented by journalists.

Laschet emphasized that having the AfD lead ministries or even a state government would be a "catastrophe" due to the potential for undue influence over the justice system, police, and schools. However, he also stressed the need for a more nuanced approach, suggesting that the method of attempting to "make the AfD small" through formal exclusion has not succeeded. He advocated for fair treatment of elected AfD representatives, arguing that their exclusion only fuels their rhetoric against politicians.

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The consequences of the real-existing firewall, i.e. the CDU's 2018 resolution on non-cooperation, are questionable from a democratic theory perspective.