The AfD’s high poll numbers worry the other parties. Federal President Steinmeier has now also got involved in the debate about causes and answers. He calls for “a boom in problem solvers”.
The parliamentary summer break has begun, but one issue in particular is not letting go of federal politics: the strengthening of the AfD. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his concern and at the same time called for the focus to be on solving the problem instead of on fear: “We must not continue to promote the business of fearmongers in this society,” he warned in the summer interview on ZDF. “What we need is not an economy of fear-mongers, but an economy of problem-solvers. And it’s not as if we don’t have any of them.”
The polls are “disturbing,” said Steinmeier. “But they must not lead us to automatically classify every critical issue as populism and right-wing extremism.” If large parts of the electorate turn away from the ruling parties and the largest opposition party does not win, this raises questions. “Of course governing parties also have to ask themselves, and they do, whether they have the right issues, whether issues are being left out, whether they are choosing the right communication, whether they are showing the unity that voters expect, or whether there is too much argument,” said the Federal President.
Klingbeil: “People are afraid of the future”
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil also cited uncertainty as a possible reason for the AfD’s soaring. “Society is tired,” he told the editorial network Germany (RND), referring to three years of crisis caused by the corona pandemic, war in Europe, the energy crisis and inflation. “People are afraid of the future.” This ensures “that a breeding ground for populism is created, as it is spread by the right-wing extremists”.
Klingbeil admitted that the fact that the traffic light coalition was divided had also led to people being unsure. But the Union also contributes “because it is more concerned with the question of its chancellor candidacy than with effective alternatives to the AfD”. He expressed doubts that the Union’s firewall would stand up to the law.
Weber: AfD is “the enemy”
For CSU Vice-Chairman Manfred Weber, on the other hand, it is clear: “The firewall is in place.” The AfD wants to destroy what the CDU and CSU have always stood for, said the head of the European Christian Democrats (EPP) of the Funke media group. “That’s why she’s not just a political competitor for us, but an adversary and enemy.” He called on the Union parties to counter the “fear-driven politics” in Germany: “The Union must be the force that gives hope and shows that we can do it!” he said.
The CDU and CSU would have to come up with clear concepts: “Anyone who wants to fight right-wing nationalists must face up to the issues – including the issue of migration,” Weber said. The Union must “find an appropriate tone and speak in a civil language”. Problems should not only be described but also have to be solved, he emphasized. “We have to give answers that are viable. That’s the best way to fight populism and radicalism.”
Left sees “systematic neglect of the east”
The Left Party sees the AfD’s strengthening as a result of a “systematic neglect of the East”. In a decision, she emphasized that 33 years after reunification, many people in East Germany still had the experience of being left behind – and that had “fatal consequences”. With a view to the state elections in Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia next fall, one thing must be clear: “There must be no ‘business as usual’ now, otherwise there is a risk of irreparable damage to democracy.”
AfD second strongest force in polls
In polls nationwide, the AfD is currently at a record high: in the most recent ARD Germany trend the party improved by two percentage points to 20 percent in the Sunday question, making it the second strongest force after the Union (28 percent). This is the highest value for the AfD in the ARD Germany trend ever been measured. The chancellor party SPD, on the other hand, only got 18 percent. In Brandenburg, Thuringia and Saxony, where new state parliaments will be elected in just over a year, the AfD is currently the strongest party in the current polls.
The insecurity of the Germans was also reflected in the ARD Germany trend reflected: 77 percent of those surveyed stated that they were worried about the current situation in Germany. One in four cited the work of the federal government as the reason, 15 percent the upswing of the AfD or the swing to the right in society.