Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
For over a century and a half, the Siegessäule, or Victory Column, situated in Berlin’s Tiergarten, has reflected evolving German identity—from an imperial symbol to a controversial site under Nazi regime control and eventually becoming a hallmark of the city’s famed love parade.
This past Sunday, as crowds congregated beneath its towering statue, the monument observed yet another pivotal moment in German politics—a recent election that has significantly bolstered the far-right, marking a historic precedent in the nation’s post-war landscape.
“I’m devastated,” expressed David, a 32-year-old participant in the unfolding political drama. “And I’m scared and sad.”
Preliminary election results indicated that while the conservative CDU/CSU alliance secured the largest vote share at 29%, the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) emerged as a formidable second force with around 20% of the votes—signaling a dramatic rise in its political standing.
Despite having anticipated this shift, David, who did not disclose his surname, underscored the implications of this outcome for the millions of Germans who identify as racial minorities or migrants. He joined a protest outside the CDU’s headquarters, unlike the party supporters who celebrated inside. His presence was driven by a desire for accountability from the CDU regarding their relationship with the AfD.
“I’m here outside the CDU because it will be them who decide how much they give to the AfD – I’m here to hold them accountable,” he stated.
While CDU leader Merz has firmly dismissed the possibility of a formal coalition with the AfD, he previously solicited their backing for a non-binding resolution on border policies, crossing a significant threshold that once was considered taboo in mainstream German politics.
The current political landscape, with the AfD having nearly doubled its voter base since 2021, raises significant alarms regarding the potential influence of the far-right party within the German parliament.
“Half of the country’s voters chose either the CDU/CSU or the AfD,” remarked Gian Mecheril, also 32. “That means that a collaboration between fascists and conservatives is plausible,” he warned. “It’s a danger.”
On the night of the election results, Merz reiterated there was “no question” of forming any alliances with the AfD. However, for many Germans perceiving the AfD as a significant threat, such reassurances did little to alleviate their concerns, especially following a campaign characterized by anti-migrant sentiment while critical issues such as economic struggles, infrastructure decay, and the housing crisis went largely unaddressed.
“The campaign was just filled with racist diversions from the actual problems we face,” said Flo, a 19-year-old voter. “I’m anxious about what comes next.”
Ella, 30, highlighted the divisiveness of the election and its role in legitimizing extreme political views, stating, “The CDU’s win comes on the shoulders of the AfD. They worked with them, they normalized them.”
In recent weeks, public resistance against the far-right has surfaced, with thousands rallying across major German cities against the AfD and its co-leader Alice Weidel, who has openly supported the large-scale deportation of migrants and whose party members have a documented history of downplaying historical atrocities.
“The AfD is the ridiculous monster our period needs to have,” noted Willi Schultz, 32. He referenced a quote often linked to Antonio Gramsci, remarking, “The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.”
He contextualized the AfD’s rise within the broader global trends favoring right-wing populist movements, a dynamic underscored by figures like Elon Musk, who recently endorsed the AfD, labeling it as the sole party that could “save Germany.”
Charlotte, a 21-year-old, pointed out the fragmentation of Germany’s political scene post-election, noting that Merz might need to rely on alliances with other parties like the Social Democrats or even the Greens to form a government.
“I don’t know what kind of coalition we’re going to have now, but I think it won’t be easy to make new laws and to keep politics going here in Germany,” Charlotte observed. “I feel like we’ve forgotten how to speak with each other. We’re just more against each other rather than trying to understand each other’s position.”
She pointed particularly to the one in five voters who chose the AfD, highlighting the party’s appeal among those aged 25 to 34, who granted 22% of their votes to the far-right party, demonstrating a significant shift in political allegiance.
“I wish it wasn’t like that, but there’s a big part of the people who think that they are not being seen by politicians right now. So they vote for the AfD,” she added.
The implications of this election for Germany, the EU’s most populous country and third largest economy, are yet to be fully understood. The unfolding political landscape poses considerable challenges, particularly as Europe navigates the complexities of geopolitical relations in a post-Trump era.
“The campaign was very much about migration, not anything else, even though we have these big problems to face with Trump and Putin,” Charlotte noted with concern. “I wish that had received more attention.”
Despite the rightward shift, a glimmer of optimism could be found in the resurgence of the far-left party Die Linke, which managed to secure over 8% of the vote.
“It’s like a win for all of us,” remarked Liv Michel, 25. “It’s a win for everybody who’s afraid right now because of the right-wing movement in Germany.”
Source
www.theguardian.com