What if the party ruled?: This is how Germany struggles with the rise of the AfD

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Alarming mood in established party and media circles in Germany: the meteoric rise of the right-wing party AfD. In East Germany, the party has polls of 30 percent and more. The AfD is also gaining strength in West German states.

Germany’s and at the same time Europe’s largest daily newspaper “Bild” already has a headline: “Can the AfD become the strongest force now?” The newspaper speaks of a “sad trend” and the “worried question” whether the AfD itself can reach first place.

Experts see the main reason for the AfD’s strength in the weakness of the traffic light government. “If an opposition party is on the rise, the government should first look at its own nose,” said a political scientist.

“Diffuse fears” among the population

The British daily “The Times”, one of the most popular newspapers in the country, also expressed concern on Saturday about the strengthening of the AfD in Germany – and speaks of “diffuse fears” among the German population. The “march from the right” also includes other European countries.

“The appeal of the far right,” the paper said, “rests on the fear of uncontrolled immigration, the loss of national identity, the challenge of globalization and confusion over waking politics and culture wars, and the costs of ‘progressive’ politics, especially environmental ones.”

Must “think and speak as citizens of the country”

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (42) has now called on the traffic light parties not to further strengthen the AfD through internal coalition disputes. “In times of uncertainty, like now because of Russia’s war of aggression, populist parties have it increasingly easy,” said the Green politician, whose party ends at 13 percent in the new ARD “Germany trend” — its worst value in more than five years.

Gitta Connemann (59), federal chairman of the SME and Economic Union of the CDU, keeps a finger on the pulse of the national state of affairs: “If you want to regain trust, you have to think and speak like the citizens of this country: open, understandable, straightforward.”

“Terrible opinions” from voters

Other voices are harsher against their own people – according to ‘Welt’ journalist and commentator Alan Posener (73). In an interview with Welt TV, he can’t believe “that people have such terrible views and choose such a terrible party”.

Specifically: “Because people now apparently believe that this party is right. Because of course people now want foreigners out, a pure, white Germany, camps for asylum seekers, an alliance with Putin,” Posener said.

What if AfD ruled?

The ‘image’ poses the rhetorical question: what if the plans of party leader Alice Weidel (44) and fellow party leader Tino Chrupalla (48) are implemented? “Do the right wingers really have better recipes?”

Prices would continue to rise because the AfD wanted out of the EU is a first argument against the party. “Gone are the days of hassle-free entry,” which also means cloudy vacations: “Instead of being waved through at the border, Germans should be prepared for identity checks and longer waiting times.” There are also possible supply bottlenecks and delays due to border controls.

There are also warnings about loss of performance and benefits in the areas of jobs, family and pension. And: “The AfD wants to improve relations with Russia, end all sanctions.” The AfD wants a foreign policy that only supports NATO as a defense alliance. Deployment outside the alliance area should only be possible under UN mandate.

Source: Blick