Sky News Daily Why is the far-right on the rise in Germany?
Feb 20, 2025
Adam Parsons, Sky News Europe correspondent, and Jakob Guhl, a researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, dive into the rising popularity of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. They discuss how the AfD is attracting one in five voters amid widespread dissatisfaction with traditional politics. The conversation highlights the party's anti-immigration stance following the 2015 refugee crisis and the complexities of forming coalitions, as mainstream parties refuse to align with the AfD.
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AfD's Rise in Germany
- Germany's far-right AfD is gaining unprecedented support, fueled by anti-establishment sentiment and anxieties about migration.
- The party attracts a diverse range of voters, from fiscal conservatives to potential extremists, united by a desire to prioritize German interests.
Who Votes AfD?
- Not all AfD voters are extremists, but the party's rhetoric resonates with those concerned about Germany's future and critical of mainstream politics.
- Many view the AfD as an alternative to established parties and their perceived failures.
The AfD Firewall
- Mainstream German parties employ a "firewall" to prevent the AfD from entering a coalition government due to its far-right ideology.
- This strategy aims to isolate the AfD, but it also fuels the party's narrative of an establishment "stitch-up."