CDU's alliance with AfD sparks nationwide protests in Germany
Hundreds of thousands of Germans protested at the beginning of February against the initiative by the CDU, supported by the AfD, which has been gaining in the polls. The controversy revolves around the deportation of migrants. According to Aleksandra Kozaczyńska, an analyst at the Centre for Eastern Studies, the German right derives its influence not only from the migration crisis.
In the first days of February, Germans took to the streets in protest against the informal agreement between the CDU and the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany). This agreement calls for permanent border controls and the deportation of migrants who have entered the country illegally. This topic has become a prominent issue in the campaign ahead of the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for 23 February.
Germany: CDU accused of "breaking a taboo"
On Wednesday, 29 January, at the initiative of the CDU’s chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, the Bundestag passed a resolution to introduce permanent controls at German state borders and turn away individuals without documents. This was made possible with the support of the previously isolated right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD). The Social Democrats from the SPD and the Greens regarded this as a "breaking of a taboo." Merz later explained that the seriousness of the issue outweighed any discomfort with the AfD's support.
The AfD, led by 45-year-old Bundestag member Alice Weidel, has long built its support base on dissatisfaction with migration policies initiated by Angela Merkel's government. Weidel was recently bolstered by the party's unanimous decision to be its chancellor candidate. After the February elections, the party further strengthened its support, with January polls showing it at around 22%, currently making the AfD the second political force in Germany.
In the latest survey by the Forschungsgruppe Research Institute on 30 January, support for the leading CDU fell below 30% for the first time in weeks. The AfD can expect 21% of the vote, clearly outdistancing Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats and the Greens.
Interestingly, the rise in support for the AfD is not seen as a result of far-right radicals shifting towards the centre. - We are witnessing a trend towards radicalisation. The party experienced a period in which it considered moving towards the centre. Their experience indicates that radicalisation brings them popularity. That is why they are now seeing support ranging between 20-22 percent - commented Michał Kędzierski, an analyst on energy, climate, and transport policy in Germany at the Centre for Eastern Studies in a podcast.
In practice, the AfD remains politically isolated. In Germany, there is talk of a "cordon"—exclusion from any coalition. Due to its populist message, the AfD cannot rely on the favour of major media, so its leaders mainly direct their campaign messages through social media.
"AfD rides the wave of employment uncertainty"
According to Aleksandra Kozaczyńska, a specialist on Germany and Northern Europe at the Centre for Eastern Studies, the AfD "rides the wave of uncertainty related to employment (especially among young people), lack of real wage growth, and rising living costs". - German companies are losing their international competitiveness, leading to plant closures and layoffs, and unfavourable demographic conditions are forcing increases in contributions, particularly health and pension - she explained in an interview with money.pl.
The AfD fights for the votes of Germans with primarily conservative and right-wing views, regardless of their social standing. They are generally Germans who are "historically" poorer, i.e., from regions that fared less favourably through German reunification, the transformation of East Germany, and subsequent globalisation and EU expansion to the east. Saxony and Thuringia are examples - Kozaczyńska noted.
The AfD denies the phenomenon of climate change; the party's politicians propose abandoning the green transformation, including repealing fleet limits on CO2 emissions by new cars and supporting the production of combustion engine vehicles. - They blame it for reducing the international competitiveness of German automotive companies. They also propose a return to energy cooperation with Russia to secure low energy prices for businesses - summarises the OSW expert.
According to the Centre for Eastern Studies, the AfD gains through the radicalisation of its message, which proves effective primarily on the issue of the migration crisis. "Moderating the narrative will not allow entry into the government coalition in the next term. The party's goal is to become the strongest opposition party in the future parliament with a range of effective tools to influence German politics, allowing the AfD to strengthen ahead of future elections, which it aims to win," reads a commentary on the OSW website.
Not just migrants: How AfD addresses Germany’s economy
The AfD is approaching the elections not solely with anti-immigrant slogans. The party emphasises in its programme that asylum seekers should not receive monetary benefits but material ones. It also advocates for the government to limit "citizens' benefits" for legally residing foreigners. "We will ensure that hundreds of thousands of able-bodied benefit recipients return to the labour market," the party stresses in its programme.
Weidel's party questions the Green Deal and any laws implemented by Brussels in this direction, denying any climate change. "Bans on combustion engines and heating with oil and gas must be abolished. Unfortunately, the CDU is unable to do this," emphasised the extreme German right. Weidel also announced that if the AfD comes to power, her government will "dismantle the wind turbines of shame," producing power from renewable energy sources and, in her opinion, marring the landscape.
The AfD is entering the elections with a promise to raise the tax-free allowance to £12,000. The party also calls for the abolition of the CO2 emissions tax and a reduction in energy taxes. "We will end the costly 'energy transition' and abandon the EU's 'climate policy.' To obtain cheap and reliable energy, Germany must return to nuclear power and maintain coal-fired power plants," the party emphasises. In a populist appeal, they point out that "only the AfD wants to halt Germany's decline and initiate a new economic miracle."
The German right announces increased funding for the military but without specifics. The AfD also supports the reinstatement of mandatory military service. It does not view NATO as a key security guarantor for the country.
Bartłomiej Chudy
