Far-right politics has been on the rise in countries around the world in the last several years. Germany, which has seen its fair share of far-right movements throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, has been closely monitoring the situation, looking to prevent another Nazi-like regime from emerging in the country. Here is what Germany says about far-right politics in the modern era.
The Situation in Germany Today
At present, mainstream German politics remains largely divided between the parties of the left and the right. The majority of German citizens support political parties that represent the left end of the political spectrum; however, there is still a significant portion of the population which voices its support for far-right parties.
The most prominent far-right political movement in Germany today is the AfD (Alternative for Germany) party. Founded in 2013, it currently holds ninety-three seats in the German Bundestag, higher than any other far-right party in the country’s modern history. Its leader, Alexander Gauland has often drawn ire from the media and government officials for his strong rhetoric and links with the far-right.
The Position of German Politicians
Due to the current landscape of the German political arena, many of the country’s prominent political leaders have called for action to prevent the rise of right-wing populism. Speaking in a recent press conference, Chancellor Angela Merkel said, “we must remain vigilant and reject any form of right-wing extremism in our society.”
Other politicians such as German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have also been vocal in their opposition to far-right politics. Steinmeier has often spoken of the need to counter right-wing populism, stating, “we must ensure that the voices of our modern democratic society are heard, not those of those who seek to manipulate and spread hatred.”
The Achievements of the Far-Right in Germany
Despite the efforts of the nation’s leading political figures, the far-right in Germany has made significant strides in recent years. From the AfD’s electoral successes to the rise in the popularity of right-wing hate speech, the far-right movement has made an undeniable impact on German politics. In the last federal election, the AfD secured over 13% of the vote, a significant increase on its performance in previous years.
Far-Right Issues in the German Media
The far-right’s presence in the German media landscape is also hard to deny. Though many news outlets have attempted to contain the far-left’s presence in the country, the far-right has been able to successfully promote its views, to a certain extent, in the media.
The most prominent far-right media sources include Avaaz and Compact, two German-based magazines that have been linked to the AfD’s rise in popularity. Avaaz often champions far-right and nationalist causes, while Compact has frequently been accused of promoting xenophobic and anti-Islam rhetoric.
The German Government’s Response
Given the success of the far-right in Germany, the nation’s leaders have taken steps to reduce the influence of the movement in the country. These efforts have taken a variety of forms, ranging from legislative action to the censoring of some far-right websites.
For instance, in 2017, the German government passed a law that prohibited groups that pose a threat to democratic order from forming associations. This legislation was seen as a direct response to the rise of the AfD and other far-right gatherings. In addition, the government has also moved to block many far-right websites and social media accounts in order to contain the spread of hate speech and extremism.
Far-right politics has become an increasing reality in Germany in recent years; however, the nation’s politicians remain strongly opposed to its views and agendas. From political figures denouncing the movement to laws that prevent its groups from forming associations, the government has made an effort to reduce the influence of the far-right in the country. How successful these efforts will be remains to be seen, however, it is clear that the fight against far-right politics in Germany is far from over.
