With well over 40% for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Saxony-Anhalt has witnessed a landmark election night. DW's reporters were on the ground.
I know this is a bit of a spicy take and I hope it doesn’t age like milk, but this may not be the worst thing for Germany long-term.
Far-right populist parties often do a bad job once they get into power. If they screw up running Saxony-Anhalt over the next three years it may put voters off voting for them in the next federal election.
Orban governed for, what? 16 years? PiS in Poland won the last presidential elections and is on track to be back in power in couple of years. Modi has 70% approval rating. Meloni is still leading in polls. Milei won midterms a year ago. So… not sure if what you’re describing really happens that often.
Proportional system usually results in coalition government so the radicals are forced to mellow out. Keeping AfD out of coalition by firewall might do much more harm than good in the long run. This kind of result emboldens them to stay extremist.
History and research shows the opposite to be true. Coalition, talking, taking over their topics, anything legitimizing strengthens them. The only effective counter is a broad rejection across politics, society, including companies, religious institutions etc, and press.
It’s very well organised unfortunately. Channel 5 YouTube channel did a decent video on this yesterday. Went and interviewed a bunch of people at an AfD rally in Saxony-Anhalt.
Literally the only possible ray of sunshine on this rainy day. And that maybe, after all this time, the fucking cdu gets the message that being afd lite will not help them get votes.
I know this is a bit of a spicy take and I hope it doesn’t age like milk, but this may not be the worst thing for Germany long-term. Far-right populist parties often do a bad job once they get into power. If they screw up running Saxony-Anhalt over the next three years it may put voters off voting for them in the next federal election.
Von Papen thought the same thing.
Orban governed for, what? 16 years? PiS in Poland won the last presidential elections and is on track to be back in power in couple of years. Modi has 70% approval rating. Meloni is still leading in polls. Milei won midterms a year ago. So… not sure if what you’re describing really happens that often.
This take is kinda shunned in leftist groups, because that’s what they said last time in Germany.
Proportional system usually results in coalition government so the radicals are forced to mellow out. Keeping AfD out of coalition by firewall might do much more harm than good in the long run. This kind of result emboldens them to stay extremist.
History and research shows the opposite to be true. Coalition, talking, taking over their topics, anything legitimizing strengthens them. The only effective counter is a broad rejection across politics, society, including companies, religious institutions etc, and press.
lol plenty of people said that in 2016 usa
here’s hoping this isn’t well organized
It’s very well organised unfortunately. Channel 5 YouTube channel did a decent video on this yesterday. Went and interviewed a bunch of people at an AfD rally in Saxony-Anhalt.
Very interesting viewing.
ugh
Unfortunately they are also good at scapegoating and distracting.
Literally the only possible ray of sunshine on this rainy day. And that maybe, after all this time, the fucking cdu gets the message that being afd lite will not help them get votes.