Alternative for Germany (AfD)

US President Donald Trump and far-right figures in Europe used Spain’s migration crisis to warn of potential consequences if political opponents gain power, citing the surge of migrants in Ceuta as a cautionary example. Right-wing leaders and Trump-aligned officials called for stricter border controls and criticized policies they claim enable mass migration.

A vehicle and machete attack near Berlin’s Pride parade killed a Polish woman and injured 29 others. The presumed attacker, Abdul Ballout, had prior convictions and attempted to join the Islamic State but was not under close surveillance. German authorities and the far-right AfD face criticism over security failures.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reshuffled top government posts amid a decline in popularity and rising influence of the far-right AfD. The changes follow a resignation over personal conduct and aim to strengthen his coalition ahead of key regional elections where AfD seeks its first state governor role.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reshuffled top government posts amid a far-right party's potential advance in regional elections. Key changes include Thorsten Frei, Nina Warken, and Carsten Linnemann moving to new roles. The reshuffle follows declining government popularity and rising influence of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized a U.S. Trump administration funding scheme aimed at supporting free speech and religious liberty in Europe, warning against foreign interference in German elections. The $5 million initiative, linked to U.S. efforts to support nationalist parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD), has drawn opposition from Merz, who emphasized the illegality of foreign financial support for political actors in Germany.

Berlin mayor Kai Wegner announced he will not run for reelection after being accused of misrepresenting his actions during a January blackout. The blackout, caused by a far-left arson attack on energy infrastructure, left neighborhoods without power or heating for four days. Wegner's conservative CDU faces declining support in Berlin, with the party losing ground to The Left, the Greens, and AfD.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is promoting a 'Reformkanzler' image through economic overhauls in pensions, tax, and health insurance to counter the far-right AfD's rise. His coalition aims to demonstrate effectiveness amid skepticism about the reforms' scale.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius opposes sharing classified information with AfD ministers due to the party's ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The AfD, which recently gained significant electoral support, could form a state government in Saxony-Anhalt, raising concerns about its impact on German democracy.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stated the federal government may withhold information from state administrations if the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) forms a state government. The AfD is criticized for ties to Moscow, and polls suggest it could win an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt's September state election.

German police scuffled with protesters during the Alternative for Germany (AfD) national convention. The incident occurred outside the AfD meeting.

Mass protests occurred in Germany around the far-right AfD party's congress in Erfurt. Demonstrators staged a sit-in at Gothaer Platz to block access to the Messe Erfurt fairground where the AfD congress was held on July 4-5, 2026.

Thousands of protesters in Germany opposed the far-right AfD party during its annual congress in Erfurt. The AfD's co-leader claimed the protests would strengthen the party, which is currently Germany's most popular according to polling and aims to win upcoming state elections. Opposition groups and other political parties have sought to block the AfD from federal government roles.

Germany’s ruling coalition announced tax, labor, and pension reforms to revitalize the economy and counter the far-right AfD’s rising influence. The package includes tax cuts for families, higher taxes on high earners, pension age increases, and reduced corporate reporting obligations, while facing criticism from trade unions over labor reforms.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a coalition tax reform deal to cut taxes for low- and middle-income earners while increasing taxes on high earners, aiming to revive the economy and counter declining public approval. The agreement includes measures to boost competitiveness and address unfair trade practices, but faces challenges as the far-right AfD gains support.

German political leaders are opposing Volkswagen's plan to cut 100,000 jobs and close four plants, citing economic challenges and political risks. The move highlights tensions between VW's management and its supervisory board, which includes politicians and unions, amid growing pressure on Germany's manufacturing sector and coalition government.

A 2020 photo shows German far-right AFD lawmaker Martin Reichardt raising his left arm as another man kneels before him and addresses him as 'Mein Führer'. The incident occurs amid the party's growing influence.

A German court sentenced a 51-year-old Saudi psychiatrist to life imprisonment for driving a rented SUV into a crowded Christmas market in 2024, killing six people and injuring over 300. The court convicted him of six counts of murder and 338 counts of attempted murder, citing 'especially severe culpability' due to premeditated planning and execution of the attack.

Germany's post-WWII leaders discouraged national pride, promoting constitutional patriotism instead. The 2006 World Cup normalized public displays of the German flag, but recent years have seen the far-right AfD co-opt the flag and national symbols for far-right ideology, creating political tension.

European nationalist leaders who once viewed U.S. President Donald Trump's support as a political asset are now distancing themselves due to his tariff wars, threats against Greenland, and a war on Iran that raised energy prices. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French far-right leader Jordan Bardella have publicly criticized Trump, reflecting a broader shift as polls show declining trust in his support among right-wing voters.

Germany’s far-right AfD party seeks to abolish the foreign aid ministry, citing a fraud scandal at GIZ, the German Agency for International Cooperation, where 24 Yemen office employees were dismissed over alleged misdeeds. The scandal involves suspected embezzlement and fraudulent claims, with damage estimated in tens of millions of euros. AfD spokesperson Rocco Kever criticized Germany’s development aid policy, comparing it to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to USAID.

Friedrich Merz's coalition government faces pressure to deliver urgent reforms ahead of September state elections in eastern Germany, where the far-right AfD leads in polls. The government aims to pass reforms on taxes, pensions, and care insurance to restore trust and counter economic anxiety, with Merz warning that failure risks AfD victories and challenges to German democracy.

Friedrich Merz accused Alternative for Germany (AfD) lawmakers of attending events in Moscow and trivializing Ukraine’s suffering during a Bundestag debate. Merz reaffirmed Germany’s support for Ukraine and called for continued European engagement to end the war.

Politically motivated crimes in Germany reached a record high in 2025, with right-wing perpetrators accounting for nearly half of cases and left-wing crimes surging by 42%. Espionage-related crimes also rose sharply by 558%, attributed to foreign intelligence activities.

Germany's economy minister is visiting China to strengthen bilateral trust and cooperation. A former German chancellor has warned against collaborating with the far-right AfD party.