A recent survey conducted by the initiative 'Together for Democracy and Diversity' indicates that the political firewall against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is weakening in the towns of Wolfratshausen and Geretsried. The survey included responses from all ten mayoral candidates in the two municipalities. In Wolfratshausen, only three out of six candidates explicitly ruled out supporting AfD proposals in the city council, while in Geretsried, only one candidate did so. This troubling trend suggests a concerning level of openness to collaboration with a party that is often regarded as far-right and extremist.

The AfD is planning to run its own candidates in both Wolfratshausen and Geretsried in the upcoming local elections on March 8. The non-partisan group emphasizes the need to maintain a distance from this party, arguing that its ideology systematically undermines the values and institutions of the democratic order. The spokespersons for the initiative, Martina Schmid and Martin Lorenz, specifically highlight the potential for the AfD to gain representation in the local council, indicating that voters need to be vigilant against the normalization of such extreme political positions in local governance.

This situation is particularly significant given the broader national context in Germany, where the AfD's popularity has fluctuated amid debates on immigration, national identity, and other social issues. The weakening of the political barrier against the AfD in local elections reflects broader societal challenges and raises questions about the future of democratic values at all levels of governance. The findings of the survey should serve as a wake-up call for residents and democratic advocates in these communities to be proactive in maintaining a diverse and inclusive political landscape.