Today, Explained Germany's rightward march
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Feb 24, 2025 Nina Haase, Chief Political Correspondent for Deutsche Welle, and Constanze Stelzenmüller, Director at the Brookings Institution, dive into Germany's shifting political landscape. They discuss the historic electoral gains of the far-right Alternative for Germany party and the implications for democracy and transatlantic relations. The conversation highlights the challenges of managing free speech amid rising extremism and the urgency for a stable government to counter external threats. Fear and hope collide as Germany grapples with its past and future.
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German Election Results
- Germany's conservative CDU party, led by Friedrich Merz, is poised to form a new government.
- The far-right AfD achieved a historic second-place finish, concerning many.
AfD's Radicalization
- The AfD, initially focused on economic policy, has shifted to anti-immigrant, pro-Russia, and pro-China stances.
- This radicalization raises concerns about Germany's liberal democratic system.
AfD and Nazi History
- An AfD leader downplayed the Holocaust and used Nazi slogans.
- This incident highlights concerns about the party's extremist leanings.