Entry of far right in Bundestag: Assertion of retrograde German nationalism, anti-immigration and anti-Islam

By Sadhan Mukjerjee*
The election results in Germany show a dangerous portent. Though Angela Markel has become the 4th time Chancellor of Germany but her party CDU-CSU has got the lowest vote since 1949. It has lost substantial voter support. The CDU-CSU has won only a 33% vote, aer CDU-CSUH loss of 8.5%.
Similarly, Social Democrats have lost heavily losing 5.2% votes and winning only 20.5%. It leader Martin Schultz has declared that the party will not join the Markel’s government, thus ending the Grand Coalition that ruled Germany. Many in that party felt that the party has not got its due in the coalition and hence it is better to operate as an independent entity.
What is however a dangerous trend is Alternative for Germany (AfD)’s surge, winning 12.6% votes, a gain of 7.9%. This means it will not only enter the Bundestag (Parliament) for the first time but also become the third largest party in parliament.
The German election has been described as an election of joy and despair, joy because Angela Markel wins the forth term as Chancellor and despair because the extreme rightwing has made an entry into parliament. A commentator has pithily put that Markel like Obama is more popular abroad than at home.
But it is not just merely despair; the victory of AfD has shown a dangerous growth trend in Germany as this party openly opposes entry of refugees and foreigners into Germany; its main theme is Hate for fellow human beings, assertion of retrograde German nationalism, anti-immigration and anti-Islam. More and more Germans seem to opt for such negative German policies.
It stands to reason that Angela Markel will now form a coalition with the Left, Greens and Free Democratic Party (FDP). THE SPD has refused to team up with Markel. The Left has marginally increased its vote by 0.6% with 9.2% vote, FDP with 12.6% votes (a gain of 5.9%) and the Greens with 8.9%, an increase of 0.5% votes. So Germany will have a coalition of CDU-CSU with Jamaica parties (Red, Green and Yellow, that is the colours of Jamaican flag), meaning the Left, the Green and the FDP in Germany.

This will however not be an easy coalition. For example, FDP is a pro-Business party while the Greens have their own agenda of changing Germany. Angela Markel will have an uphill task not only to cobble up the coalition but also to carry on the government’s current policies. Will Markel be comfortable with Left? That is a question that is yet to be seen.
There is another lurking danger. The AfD has won in the areas that was formerly German Democratic Republic (GDR) and was ruled by National Front which was run by the communist party (the Socialist Unity Party of Germany). After the collapse of GDR, the parties which controlled West Germany never really helped former GDR areas to grow as West German areas did. It was again a feeling of Divided Germany.
Probably Angela Markel has understood this. After the election results were out, she said the success of the far right was a test for Germans. It was important to listen to the concerns of their voters and win them back, she said. But this is easier said than done as the time in hand is not a long period, barely four years to the next election.
The refugee problem and security of Germany is the immediate big headache for the government. Germany has had several terrorist attacks and now it is said that 700 potential terrorists have been identified in Germany.
Other issues include Euro zone and austerity, international issues in which Germany is actively involved, relations with Britain, Russia etc.
German economy is still fine but there is lack of investment in infrastructure. It has renounced nuclear energy but the alternative sources have not grown to the extent required. Also there is competition from other countries. Germany’s nomenclature as power house of Europe still holds good but its preeminent position is slowly eroding.
Germany’s relations with developing countries, most likely, will not change. Here again time will tell.
---
*Veteran journalist

Comments

Former civil servants raise alarm over conflict of interest in Supreme Court's forest advisory panel

By A Representative In a strongly worded open letter to the Chief Justice of India, 60 retired senior civil servants from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other central services have raised serious concerns over what they term a “conflict of interest” in the current composition of the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), tasked with advising the Court in forest and environmental matters. The signatories, all part of the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), expressed grave apprehension that the CEC—now comprising entirely of recently retired officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)—may lack impartiality in ongoing litigation, particularly those challenging the Forest Conservation Amendment Act (FCAA), 2023.

Prof. Vidyut Joshi: Gujarat’s knowledge institutions have lost their soul, urgent reorientation needed

By A Representative In a thought-provoking column published in Sandesh , eminent sociologist and former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Vidyut Joshi has raised urgent concerns over the erosion of intellectual autonomy and social relevance in Gujarat’s leading research and academic institutions. Building on insights from the recent paper Secret of Creating High Performing Knowledge Institutions by development economist Prof. Tushaar Shah, Joshi paints a stark picture of institutions that have strayed far from their foundational vision.

Remembering Vasant and Rajab: The forgotten martyrs who died to protect India’s soul from communal hatred

By Hidayat Parmar How much do we truly know about the real history of Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s royal city? July 1st marks a date that shines a light on two of its noblest sons—Vasant and Rajab—whose legacy lives on as a powerful reminder of secular unity and fearless sacrifice.

Top civil rights leader announces plan to lead delegation to Pakistan amidst post-war tensions

By A Representative In a significant move, well-known academic and civil rights leader Sandeep Pandey has announced the plan to send a 22-member delegation to Pakistan to engage in dialogue with its government and civil society. The delegation proposed to go to Pakistan under the banner of Socialist Party (India) as a fact-finding mission to help seek solution to continuing tensions between the two countries over the fallout of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Global recognition at UNHRC: A breakthrough for communities discriminated on work and descent

By Amit Kumar, Naveen Gautam* In a historic moment for global human rights, the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council opened with a powerful acknowledgment of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD)—groups affected by caste-like systems of exclusion, marginalization, and inherited inequality. This recognition was delivered by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk during his global human rights update, signaling a major shift in international discourse.

Climate action in rural India can go hand in hand with sustainable livelihoods: NGO shows the way

By Bharat Dogra Mobilizing an adequate response to climate change is often seen as an expensive task and then there is a lot of talk about who’ll bear the burden. However in rural areas both climate mitigation and adaptation can be integrated well with the promotion of sustainable rural livelihoods and in such conditions people become very supportive towards it. In such conditions climate response can progress much more smoothly without becoming burdensome.

J&K's Mallabuchan villagers symbolically cut Off pipeline in protest against ‘water injustice’

By A Representative In a striking act of peaceful protest, residents of Mallabuchan village in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district symbolically disconnected the Ahmadpora-Tangmarg water pipeline on Thursday, denouncing decades of official neglect and violation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) norms.

Organic food stakeholders oppose FSSAI's proposed regulatory changes, warn against undermining small farmers, safe food movement

By A Representative Over 130 signatories representing India’s organic farming community have submitted a strongly worded letter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), objecting to key proposals discussed at a hybrid meeting held by the authority on May 7, 2025. The meeting, convened to review the Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations 2017, reportedly considered drastic amendments that stakeholders claim will harm small producers and the broader movement for agroecological food systems.

A healthier model for goat-based livelihoods in remote Madhya Pradesh villages

By Bharat Dogra While buffaloes and cows often receive greater attention in animal husbandry-related government development schemes, goats remain vital for poorer households. Therefore, enhancing goat-based livelihoods is especially important for marginalized communities—particularly when such efforts reduce villagers' costs and lower goat mortality rates. One promising strategy involves training local villagers, especially women, to provide essential veterinary services. A welcome byproduct of this is that several women gain a respected source of income within their own villages.

Search This Blog