German Works Councils Adopt Six Strategies to Counter Far-Right Influence in 2026

Neo-Nazis Target German Works Councils in Strategic Move to Undermine Labor Democracy

Germany’s far-right Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party is mounting a concerning campaign to infiltrate works councils ahead of the 2026 elections, posing a significant threat to the country’s established labor relations system.

The strategy follows a disturbing historical pattern, echoing methods used to undermine democratic institutions from within. With the AfD polling at 26% nationally by mid-November—surpassing the conservative CDU at 25%—trade unionists across Germany are scrambling to establish a “workplace firewall” against what they call the “blue elephant.”

Germany’s works council system, which emerged after World War I and was reinstated following the Nazi era, represents a unique dual structure of worker representation. Works councils operate inside companies to handle day-to-day affairs, while trade unions engage in collective bargaining with employer federations at industry level. This system was designed to channel class conflict away from individual workplaces while giving workers meaningful representation.

The AfD’s campaign to infiltrate these institutions comes as the party’s support among self-identified workers has surged to 38% in the 2025 Bundestag election—17 percentage points higher than in 2021. This growing popularity threatens to disrupt the traditional labor unity that has characterized German workplaces.

Trade unionists warn that the AfD may deploy three different approaches in the upcoming works council elections: running openly under AfD-branded lists, using camouflaged names like “Zentrum,” or infiltrating existing lists, including those associated with management or conservative Christian unions.

“Zentrum,” a right-wing organization described by critics as a “sham union,” has reportedly been building structures inside companies for years. According to its own claims, it has connections to hundreds of works councils, many operating covertly while promoting AfD ideology.

The threat comes at a particularly vulnerable time for German labor. The country is experiencing its longest post-war recession, with mounting pressure on wages and working conditions. Chancellor Merz’s conservative-led government has proposed what critics call “reform packages” aimed at reviving the economy while shifting power further toward employers—including potential challenges to the 8-hour workday established in 1918.

In this climate, AfD-affiliated works council members could significantly weaken workplace representation. Even a single right-wing individual on a works council can shift the entire atmosphere, labor experts warn. The impact was demonstrated at Volkswagen’s Zwickau plant, where AfD-affiliated candidates won four seats in a contested election.

German labor unions face a difficult dilemma. Their tradition of “one company, one union” requires integrating workers across the political spectrum while neutralizing far-right ideology. Some works councils already show what analysts call “anticipatory obedience” toward the AfD, positioning themselves against unions and adopting anti-labor rhetoric.

The 2022 works council elections went relatively well for mainstream unions like IG Metall, with limited far-right breakthroughs. However, the situation in 2026 is expected to be more challenging, with the AfD likely to field candidates across more industries and regions, particularly targeting small and medium-sized enterprises where union presence may be weaker.

German law does not allow the exclusion of right-wing candidates from democratic elections, which benefits the AfD’s strategy. Labor advocates worry this could lead to a “stalemate” in many workplaces—a subtle non-aggression pact between democratic and authoritarian factions that ultimately undermines worker solidarity and collective action.

As Germany approaches this critical juncture, DGB unions remain the strongest worker organizations in the country. However, with far-right sentiment growing rapidly among the working class, the traditional approach of simply “holding position” may no longer be sufficient to counter the challenge in 2026.