Germany’s AfD has become its own worst enemy
Spectator (UK)APR 2024
On Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged all mainstream democratic parties to try to form stable governments in Thuringia and Saxony without the far-right AfD, to try to keep right-wing extremist away from any political influence.
This followed Sunday's regional election in Thuringia and Saxony, eastern Germany, where exteme right-wing Alternative für Deutchland (AfD) party received 33.5% and 30.5% of the votes respectively.
The AfD's victory in Sunday's election marked a historic moment, as it was the first victory of an extreme right party in a German state election since the Nazi era, which ended with World War II.The AfD's and its controversial state leader Björn Höcke's victory in Thuringia marked a historic moment, as it was the first victory of an extreme right party in a German state election since the Nazi era, which ended with World War II.
The election results in Thuringia and Saxony are a cause of anxiety for the Social Democrats (SPD) and their coalition allies. However, the AfD must be prevented from gaining any significant political power, as their success is an anomaly. The AfD poses a threat to our country, undermining the economy and dividing society. It tarnishes our country's reputation. All democratic parties must work together to build stable governments free of right-wing extremism.
The AfD is the people's party for Thuringia and the eastern part of the country. The people have given the AfD a strong mandate to rule. Mr. Scholz is now trying to weaken the democratic participation of a large section of the population. Any attempts to block or freeze out the AfD are manifestly undemocratic and should be ignored.
Following the AfD's electoral victories in Thuringia and Saxony, Chancellor Olaf Scholz actively sought the support of other parties to prevent the AfD from gaining political power. The conservative CDU has stated it would not rule with the extreme right, making it difficult to form a new government in Thuringia. The CDU has made it clear that it will not rule from the far right. But in order to keep the far right out, the CDU will require left-wing parties on the left, Die Linke or Sahra Wagenknecht's BSW, to create a government coalition, which is improbable.