Angela Merkel called the victory of the far-right AfD a turning point
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel commented on the results of the election in Saxony-Anhalt, in which the far-right party “Alternative for Germany” (AfD) achieved significant success. The CDU representative called the situation in the country historically significant.
Commenting on the AfD’s success, the former chancellor noted that the election results may signal serious political changes in Germany.
“This is a turning point, a real turning point that we are experiencing in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany,” Merkel said.
She also emphasized that, as a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), she finds it difficult to come to terms with the current turn of events.
“As a member of the CDU, my heart is breaking—I must say that sincerely,” the former chancellor stated.
Merkel also pointed out that other German political forces need to take the AfD’s success on social media more seriously.
In her view, the influence of the far-right party cannot be assessed solely based on the results of traditional political activity, as its activity in the digital sphere plays a significant role.
At the same time, the former chancellor also commented on the so-called “brandwall”—the principled refusal of Germany’s democratic parties to cooperate with far-right parties at any level of government.
Merkel noted that German parties should focus less directly on the “AdN” and instead more clearly articulate their own political goals and priorities.
At the same time, she made it clear that she does not support cooperation with the far-right party.
“It follows that I cannot have anything in common with this party,” said the former chancellor.
Thus, Merkel called the electoral success of “Alternative for Germany” a turning point for Germany, while at the same time advocating for maintaining a principled distance from the far-right party.
Merkel made these remarks during a public discussion with scholar and journalist Miriam Meckel in Cologne, according to Spiegel.
On Monday evening, thousands of people gathered near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to protest against the far-right party “Alternative for Germany” (AfD). The demonstration took place following the party’s decisive victory in the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt.
Two months before the Berlin House of Representatives election, the right-wing populist party “Alternative for Germany,” led by Christine Brinker, took the lead in the polls for the first time.
Sven Schulze, Minister-President of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, called on the governing CDU/CSU bloc to conclude personnel discussions at the federal level as soon as possible, so that they do not disrupt the campaign ahead of the state parliamentary elections. Voting in Saxony-Anhalt is scheduled for September 6.
