German Conservatives Face Backlash for Aligning with Far-Right AfD

The center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) in the eastern German state of Thuringia are facing criticism for joining forces with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) to pass new tax legislation. Rival parties accused the CDU of crossing a line by working with the AfD, which is being investigated for extremist tendencies. The CDU's actions have been condemned by other parties, who accuse them of breaking taboos and making a pact with the far-right. CDU leader Friedrich Merz defended his colleagues, stating that the party's "firewall" against the far-right would be maintained.