German AfD faces internal ideological battle over government participation

DW News examines whether the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party could moderate its positions if it enters government, or whether power would deepen internal conflicts between ideological hardliners and pragmatists. The analysis argues that government responsibility typically forces populist parties to make practical compromises, but the AfD's internal factions hold fundamentally incompatible visions. This matters globally because Germany's political direction influences European stability and the continent's approach to immigration and defense policy. The debate reflects broader tensions across European right-wing movements between anti-establishment rhetoric and governing realities.