AfD

Commentators in Germany are arguing that established parties mistakenly believe they can defeat the AfD by adopting parts of its programme. The argument being shared is that the AfD inflates manufactured rather than real problems, so parties copying its positions only amplify those manufactured issues, shifting attention away from genuine major problems and effectively strengthening the far-right party instead of fighting it. The debate feeds into wider discussion over how mainstream parties should respond to AfD gains, particularly on immigration.