11: The Surge of Germany's Populist AfD Party Threatens Ruling Coalition. Judy Dempsey (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) discusses the rising political power of the AfD, a populist, anti-NA

The Surge of Germany's Populist AfD Party Threatens Ruling Coalition. Judy Dempsey (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) discusses the rising political power of the AfD, a populist, anti-NATO, anti-EU, anti-American, and pro-Russia party in Germany. The party initially gained strength in the eastern part of Germany but is now also rising in the western part of the country. The AfD is actively campaigning very hard in villages, towns, cities, and even among teachers in schools. The party has nearly pulled even with the ruling party (the CSU and CDU), trailing by just one percentage point. With a large number of seats in the German parliament (Bundestag), the AfD smells power, forcing Merz to continuously maneuver to hold back the populist surge.