Right-Wing Rising in Germany
by Mike James
Over the past few years, we have written a few blogs on the rise of right-wing or nationalist political parties in Europe. We have seen evidence of this in Hungary, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, and other locations.
Most recently (September 2024), Germany has been added to this growing list. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has placed first with about 32.8 percent of the vote in the state of Thuringia and a close second in the state of Saxony with 30.8 percent of the vote. In State elections in 2014, AfD was garnering about 10 percent of the vote in Thuringia and 9 percent in Saxony. Since other parties are refusing to cooperate with the AfD it is not likely to significantly alter the state of German politics, but it is proof of a sea change in the post-World War II generation.
Without coalition partners, the best AfD can do is become a "blocking minority" which would allow it to veto decisions like the appointment of judges and amendments to the regional state constitution.
One of the AfD's primary leaders, Bjorn Hocke, was fined for using a Nazi slogan in a speech in 2021. The phrase "Everything for Germany" was the offending statement. Hocke argued that it was an "everyday statement," while the prosecutors argued he was aware it was a slogan used by the Nazis' SA (the original paramilitary wing of the Nazi party) stormtroopers.
Hocke also once called the Holocaust memorial in Berlin a "monument of shame" and called for Germany to perform a "180-degree turn" in how it remembers its past.
"For the first time since World War II, we have a far-right party coming in first place in an election here in Germany," said Sudha David-Wilp, director of the German Marshall Fund's Berlin office. "So that is quite significant. The mainstream parties have to realize that the [AfD] is here to stay.
The AfD has continued to grow in popularity since its founding in 2013. Another state election will be held in Brandenburg on September 22. Right now the AfD is polling in first place for that election.
According to Andrea Rommele, dean of executive education at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, "Some of the reasons why people vote for the AfD is, indeed, because they're dissatisfied with the national coalition. But what the numbers also show is that for people in these states, migration and security are the most important issues, and they see the AfD as the most competent party to solve these issues."
My primary purpose in bringing our attention to the German political situation is to highlight the slow but sure change occurring in European politics. Could the European Union (EU) make a sharp shift to the right due to anti-immigrant and nationalist sentiments that have been growing in Europe? Or could the European Union fracture with nationalist governments, forming a new, smaller, and tighter coalition? Who knows, but we should at least be aware of the headwinds in Europe due to their possible connection to a final Beast power government.
I'm not suggesting Germany is returning to a nationalist position. My point in addressing this story is the significance of the change in politics in Germany. It has taken many years to get to the place we are at in German politics. If a change like this can come, we have to admit that any change could come to Europe given time and the morphing of generations. As the World War II generation dies out, more changes will come that will eventually put the world in a position for the Beast power to take over.
How and when that all plays out is anyone's guess. But the Bible is clear: it will happen.
Don't worry or fret about any changes occurring in this world. Always keep Romans 8:28 in mind: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Sources: "German Far Right Nears Historic Postwar Victory," by Kate Brady and Anthony Faiola, The Washington Post, September 2, 2024.
"Co-leader of Germany's Far-Right AfD Party Fined for Using Nazi Slogan," by Daniel Bellamy, AP, in Euro News, May 14, 2024, https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/05/14/co-leader-of-germanys-far-right-afd-party-fined-for-using-nazi-slogan
"Alternative for Germany," Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_for_Germany
"Scholz Urges Parties to Snub Far Right After Gains," by Kate Brady, The Washington Post, September 3, 2024