How does AfD fit into Trump's world? And what about Friedrich Merz?

The elections in Germany will be held on February 23rd, and the Christian Democrats alliance of CDU/CSU, led by Friedrich Merz, is currently leading the polls. Everything suggests that Merz will be the next Chancellor. But with whom will he form a coalition? Can CDU/CSU cooperate with the extremist Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland - AfD)? Alexander Clarkson, a lecturer in German, European, and International Studies at King's College London, answered my question about the potential collaboration between the German centrist-conservative right and the far-right. We also discussed what the AfD represents, how it fits into Donald Trump's world, and what we can expect from Merz. Listen to our conversation. And if you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/amatisak