In the local elections held in Northumberland on September 14, Germany’s far-right party-elect vote rate almost tripled compared to five years ago, triggering a political shock in Germany. Economic pressures such as energy crisis, inflation and housing tensions, combined with a decade-long refugee policy controversy, have caused voters to be generally disappointed by the mainstream parties and turn their votes to the German party-elect. Experts noted that German refugees’ integration in languages and employment has made progress, but social anxiety and policy delay have led to a steady rise in support for German party-elect.
Extreme right forces rise.
Electoral dissatisfaction
In the local elections held in Northumberland on September 14, the far-right German Choice Party achieved unexpected results, with the voting rate jumping from about 5% in 2020 to 14% to 16%, almost doubling.threeIt has been noted that this result means that Germany's Choice Party is gradually expanding to the west from its traditional base - the eastern region, while North Wales, Germany's most populous state, is concerned about its election trends.
Some analysts believe that voters' voting behavior is closely related to the economic pressure in their daily life. In recent years, inflation in Germany has been high, energy prices have soared, and housing shortages have remained unsolved for a long time. Ordinary families feel the heavy burden of life. A middle-class voter in Cologne said, "Wages have not increased significantly, but electricity bills and rents are getting higher, and the government seems unable to solve these problems." In such an environment, Alternative for Germany directly linked economic woes to immigration issues through concise and fierce slogans, constantly emphasizing that immigrants aggravate the strain on public resources and calling for "the interests of our own citizens to be given priority".
According to reports,Germany chooses the party.The rise in support is essentially a “protest vote” against the long-term policy delays of the mainstream parties.Germany chooses the party.Extreme positions, but in the absence of alternatives, they choose to express their anger and dissatisfaction with votes.
The death of the candidate triggered conspiracy theories.
Police stress no external intervention
At the end of the election, a number of northern states.Germany chooses the party.The news of the successive death of the candidate became the focus of public opinion. With Hans-Joachim Kind of the city of Remshade dying from long-term illness in early September, this was already the seventh candidate the party lost in the local area in a few weeks. According to the media-shaped list, some of these dead candidates died from kidney failure, some were identified as suicides, and others suffered from long-term severe illnesses. On the day that the news was published, there was a lot of speculation on social media, with some supporters labeling at the rally, asking “why always our people left.”
Police then convened a press conference, clarifying that no evidence of crime has been found in all cases at the moment, "there is no evidence that these deaths are related to murder or external intervention."Germany chooses the party.Vice President Stefan Brandner said in a television interview that “it is almost statistically impossible to lose so many people in a short period of time.”Germany chooses the party.Chairman Alice Weidel even forwarded similar comments on social platforms, saying that this situation "must arouse vigilance".
An analysis suggests,Germany chooses the party.They are using this to create “victim narratives” to gain their own profits in the campaign. In addition, the Green Party and the Socialist Party also have candidates who have died during the same period, but are smaller in scale and therefore do not attract widespread attention. Police have repeatedly called for not to fall into conspiracy theories.
The Effect of Ten Years of Open Refugee Policy Still Controversial
Back in 2015, Germany, under the leadership of Prime Minister Angela Merkel, welcomed more than one million refugees, “Wir schaffen das” (we can do it) became the most representative political slogan of that era.
In the long run, some refugees have been better integrated into German society. According to the latest OECD study, more than 60% of refugees living in Germany for more than a decade speak German fluently, and many have been steadfast in the labour market.
However, the problem is that new refugee groups, especially those with low education level and vocational qualifications that are difficult to recognize in Germany, still encounter many difficulties in housing, employment and education systems. A local resident on the streets of Duisburg complained: "We can't find a suitable apartment, children's schools are crowded, and the government is constantly accepting more refugees." This social anxiety has become fertile ground for mobilization in Alternative for Germany.
Some commentaries point to the fact that the German election party has intentionally linked housing tensions and inequal distribution of social welfare to the refugee issue in its campaign, with experts saying: “Ten years of experience have shown us that refugees can be integrated, but if long-term investments in education and vocational training are required, otherwise social divisions will be aggravated.”
Poll results expose social rift
German politics is worrisome.
The German Electoral Party has doubled its vote in local elections.threeThere have been comments that this is not only the rise of far-right forces, but also complaints about the incompetence of the mainstream parties: the energy crisis and inflation have increased the pressure on the lives of ordinary citizens, the lack of breakthroughs in housing and social welfare policies, and the controversy caused by the refugee issue at the social level has torn consensus.
If this trend continues to the federal level, Germany's political landscape will face fundamental changes. It is reported that "Germany is at a political crossroads: either the mainstream parties will put forward clear and powerful reform plans on economic and immigration issues as soon as possible, or the upward trend of the far right will continue to enlarge in the next few years".
“The rise of the choosing party is the product of social anxiety,” Germany wrote in a commentary, “if this anxiety is not understood, it could become a key force in the reshaping of the German political landscape.”
And now, from the streets of North Wales to the political center of Berlin, people are concerned:Rate of SupportWhether it was a short-term protest or the beginning of a new era in German politics.
According to reference news reports, the results of an opinion poll released by the Youguan Research Company on the 17th showed that Alternative for Germany has surpassed the conservative alliance of the CDU/CSU. This isChoose the party.For the first time, it ranks at the top of the German national survey.
on the 17th,Speaking in the House of Representatives, German Prime Minister Martz called on the people to be prepared for reform, which concerns “the future of Germany.” In his speech, Martz said that Germany needs to make major decisions, focusing on some “very fundamental issues” and Germany must choose the right path.
Red Star News Special Journalist from Germany
Editor, Guo Yu