In the small community of Tüttleben, Thuringia, the CDU and AfD are working together, challenging the traditional political boundaries set by the CDU's central leadership.

This collaboration reflects a broader trend, as a recent Forsa survey reveals that 45% of CDU members are open to cooperating with the AfD, particularly in eastern Germany.

This sentiment is even stronger among CDU members in the east, with 68% considering such partnerships on a case-by-case basis.

Despite the CDU's official stance against alliances with the AfD, the party's members are increasingly pragmatic, driven by the AfD's strong polling numbers in regions like Thuringia and Saxony.

As the upcoming state elections approach, the CDU faces internal debates on maintaining its ideological "firewall" against the AfD, while also considering potential coalitions with other parties like the newly formed Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW).