(May I also add that I disagree with this article on several details that cast the current CDU/CSU conservatives in too kind a light. Merz absolutely is a bigot, and Söder is a populist, too. Their parties have for decades tried to "be the most right-wing so there is no actual far right parties".
Germans would be wise to take a look at what’s going on in my country right now. Trump is tearing things apart with no safeguards in place but the legal system and angry citizens. They will do it to Germany, too, I have no doubt.
I understand that the situation is dangerous. But I agree with the other comments about the approach taken by @theguardian.com. Some of the articles about Germany seem to be guided by Schadenfreude, especially in view of the UK's Brexit and move to the right.
German parties will probably sideline AfD in coalition talks but the new far right party has already won because it's agenda is on the public discourse
FFS, give it a rest. There is no way in hell the far-right are getting into power in Germany. Stop trying to scare people. It's almost like the guardian is on Musk's pay roll.
German here, and this is no laughing matter. In the last year or so, our formerly level-headed public media seems to have completely lost the plot and has ceased fact-checking. Right-wingers (or even just evil conservatives) get away with spouting hate propaganda unchecked, and it's swaying masses.
Merz is leading in the polls, and while he is no Trump, his agenda is full-on evil (has been for 30 years, blackest small-minded, small-town fire&brimstone conservatism), and it is opening the floodgates to AfD. And those people are full-on in Putin's pocket, will be happy to see Ukraine fall.
Indeed, Merz has broken his pledge not to work with the AfD, saying the "policy was right". Now he pledges not to form a coalition with them post-election. Why would anyone believe him? He's an opportunist and a racist. Voting with the AfD showed his willingness to normalize right-wing extremism.
The percentage of Germans willing to vote for a far-right party may be limited. The problem is that a mainstream party, ie the conservative CDU, have adopted that very racism + are normalizing it. Merz fabricates stories about asylum-seekers committing mass-rapes. Too many ppl might believe him.
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FOOL ME TWICE!!
Not gonna get fooled a third time, assh0les!
This man only wants power. That’s all he is seeking. He wants to fill his pockets and the pockets of his friends.
It is actually a dangerous situation.