CIVIC LANE The AfD is polling above 40% before the Saxony-Anhalt state election and could finish comfortably in first place. Germany's mainstream parties have traditionally refused formal cooperation with the party. Supporters of that firewall argue it protects democratic institutions from extremism, while critics say excluding a party backed by large numbers of voters undermines electoral choice. A strong AfD victory would make maintaining the firewall politically more difficult. The election therefore tests what democratic representation should mean when a controversial party wins the most votes.