The Monocle Daily

Germany’s risky flirtation with the far-right

Jan 30, 2025
Marta Lorimer, a politics lecturer at Cardiff University, and Robin Lustig, a seasoned journalist and former presenter of The World Tonight, delve into Germany's political landscape. They discuss the controversial alliance between Friedrich Merz's party and the far-right AfD, weighing its potential risks and implications for centrist voters. The conversation also covers the challenges of fact-checking in a polarized media environment, the ongoing effects of historical biases, and the debate surrounding gender inclusion in traditional gentlemen's clubs.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Merz and Thatcher's Immigration Stance

  • Friedrich Merz used AFD votes to pass an immigration resolution, echoing Margaret Thatcher's controversial immigration stance in the 1970s.
  • Thatcher's use of the word "swamped", similar to the far-right National Front, proved effective in increasing Tory votes.
INSIGHT

Co-opting Far-Right Policies

  • Co-opting far-right policies does not win back voters and legitimizes extremist viewpoints.
  • Voters rarely return to mainstream parties after voting far-right, and this strategy emboldens adversaries.
INSIGHT

Cordon Sanitaire Failure

  • The cordon sanitaire strategy against far-right parties is ineffective and unsustainable.
  • It reinforces their narrative of suppression and eventually fails, as seen with the Freedom Party's electoral win.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app