However, this long-standing principle has recently shown significant cracks. In early 2025, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, seeking to pass a controversial resolution for stricter migration policies following a violent crime, ​​knowingly accepted votes from the AfD to secure a majority​​ in the Bundestag
. This move was widely condemned by political opponents and allies as a landmark breach of the firewall, normalizing the far-right and marking a potential "turning point" in German politics
. Despite this parliamentary tactic, CDU leader Friedrich Merz and CSU leader Markus Söder have continued to publicly insist that the "Brandmauer" remains firm regarding any formal coalitions or alliances with the AfD, with Söder stating, "We are the firewall"