Policy of rupture: How the AfD became Germany's most disruptive force

About this episode

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz looks weaker than ever, and the nation's far-right AfD is stronger than ever. Europe's most important country looks to be heading into a period of deep political instability. The AfD has just won two state elections in eastern Germany, while the hard-left Die Linke has taken Berlin. That leaves coalition talks in turmoil and raises fresh questions about whether Germany's long-standing political "firewall" against the far right can hold. At the same time, Berlin is trying to lead Europe's rearmament, support Ukraine against Russia, and fill the gap left by a more reluctant United States. Tom Nuttall, The Economist's chief Germany correspondent and head of its…