Liberals in Japan have long regarded Germany as an exemplary country that has sincerely reflected on its past war crimes. This is because our country has done little of that and has been at loggerheads with neighboring Asian countries.
However, after reading a recent article in the Mainichi Shimbun, I have become concerned about one thing.
The concern is the three state legislative elections scheduled for this fall in the former East German region.
According to the Mainichi Shimbun, the exclusionist right-wing party "Alternative for Germany (AfD)" is increasing its presence in Germany: In mid-December, its candidate won the mayoral election for the first time, and in the fall of this year it could become the leading party in the three state elections scheduled for the former East German region. Why is right-wing party gaining more support?
In Pirna, eastern Saxony, a mayoral election was held on the 17th, with a AfD candidate receiving 38.5% of the votes, who was elected with a higher margin than the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) candidate (31.4%).
The AfD has won a series of elections of the heads of local governments since the middle of last year, with its candidate winning the election for county mayor in the eastern state of Thuringia in June and the election for town mayor in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt in July.
AfD was formed in 2013. Originally, the party was anti-euro and other economic policies, but since the European refugee crisis of 2015, it has taken a more chauvinistic stance, putting anti-immigrant and refugee policies front and center. It has been expanding its support mainly in the former East Germany, where income levels are lower than in the former West Germany.
Recently, the AfD's momentum has been spreading to the national level, driven by growing criticism of the Scholz coalition government in the wake of the rapid increase in refugees and inflation.
In the former West German region, the party became the second largest party in the October state election in Hesse and the third largest party in Bavaria. According to a December poll by German public broadcaster ARD, the AfD's approval rating of 21% was second only to the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU)'s 32%. It was well ahead of Chancellor Scholz's Social Democrats (14%).
This fall, there will be state elections in the three former East German states of Thuringia, where the AfD's candidate became a county mayor, Saxony, where the party's candidate became a mayor, and Brandenburg, and the AfD is widely expected to become the number one party.
Since the end of World War II, right-wing political parties have been avoided by German voters because they remind them of the Nazis, but the growth of the AfD can be seen as a sign of change. Behind the growth of the AfD, the party has been developing a clever electoral strategy with an eye to penetrating into rural areas.
After Italy, an exclusionist far-right party came to power in the Netherlands in an election. In Argentina, a man like Trump won the election. This year there is a presidential election in the United States. Trump may be re-elected. An economist Robert Reich says it is the last chance for the US to defend American democracy.
We are not in a position to say anything about other countries, though, since Japan has been mostly a one-party dictatorship run by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
So I hope that something terrible will not happen in Germany. Good luck!
The AfD is on the right, but by far no Nazi party. It is doing well because all the other parties are completely nuts, lackin any competence.
There is one very totalitarian party though: The green party. Absurd, but this might shed a light on the success of the AfD.
(btw. Germany did not manage the integration of the former eastern germany very well. This is another reason why a lot of people are dissatisfied with the ruling parties)
(Hi @captainklaus! Nice to see you again here on this post :))
Seems almost identic to the Netherlands.
...and most of the western countries...
Come to think of it, I watched the German movie "Er ist wieder da" (Look Who's Back) on DVD a couple of years ago and was shocked to see Hitler in the movie, back in time to the present day, praising the Green Party. Now the Greens are in power, and Timur Vermes' prediction came true.
I am sympathetic to the people of the former East German region. They were supposed to be free, but after German reunification they experienced unemployment for the first time in their lives. It was not supposed to be like this, they must have thought.
Why is right-wing party gaining more support?"
Maybe because we as Europeans are getting replaced by other races? And we sick and tired of monkeys in Brussels deciding how to run out country?
After Italy, an exclusionist far-right party came to power in the Netherlands in an election."
Wilders/PVV isnt totally far right. He is right/right on the EU policies which are basically robbing our sovereignity. But if that;s far right.. Then go ahead.
And we Dutch (and Germans) are not "anti migrant" we are pro "our own peepz first" because at the moment our social services our overloaded. The dentists, the schools, housing etc. The Netherlands is one of the most dense countries in Europe/world and there is simply not enough space to house everybody. There is nothing left to close the boarder if we dont want to ruin our countries.
Now imagine Japan in 2040.. Half of the population will be from Belgium origine. Now would you vote for mass migration if you had the choice?
So I hope that something terrible will not happen in Germany. Good luck!
Sir, we white people are getting replaced but that isnt terrible?
First of all, welcome from the Netherlands. I recently became a fan of Amira Willighagen who sang the opera song "O mio babbino caro" after watching a video of the audition program Holland's Got Talent on YouTube. And I thought the Netherlands was a healthy and nice country. When I found a video of her singing "We shall overcome" after explaining about the Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King Jr. in 2023, I thought she was special, even though there have been many Got Talent winners. What does she think about the Netherlands today?
The idea of the EU was supposed to be Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, "All men shall be brothers," but where has that gone?
I think it must be very difficult for the EU countries to be flooded with refugees, but I think it is an indication that Europe is so attractive with its proper welfare system.
Japan has recently joined the ranks of poor countries, and salaries have become lower, so it is no longer a country where refugees want to work. And the number of refugees admitted is very low, due to strict restrictions on the number of refugees accepted. Abuse at the immigration office has also become a problem. So I don't think there will be mass immigration in Japan.
I am afraid that the far-right parties will choose to do something more scary than just immigration, for example, going to war, which is a problem.
thanks for your coment.
I think it must be very difficult for the EU countries to be flooded with refugees, but I think it is an indication that Europe is so attractive with its proper welfare system."
I think they keep on heading to Europe cause our system is broken. It legally not easy to send them back. Even when they dont have a chance for a legal permit. This is from what i understood based on old laws made in the 50's which are outdated to say the least.
What do you expect Europe to do? Stop being wealthy to stop the mass migration?
" So I don't think there will be mass immigration in Japan."
Yes me 2 but my question was: what would you vote if it was happening?
I am afraid that the far-right parties will choose to do something more scary than just immigration, for example, going to war, which is a problem."
For the last decades the west started multiple wars but when the so called "far right parties" will gain control they would start wars cause at the moment they want to end mass migration?
Ah, so I see. The cause of mass immigration. War. When Russia started the war in Ukraine, an American filmmaker Michael Moore said, "America has fought too many wars, we can no longer afford wars." War is the most lucrative business. That's why we can't stop it. The outflow of refugees cannot be stopped either.
Japan has the Japanese Constitution Article 9, which, while not perfect, has at least prevented its citizens from dying in war.
Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained.The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.
So, to answer your question. I have always voted for parties that welcome immigrants and care about climate change and will continue to do so unhesitatingly.
What I fear is World War III.
Thanks for your post bringing this issue into focus. It's happening actually where I'm living in as an immigrant.
I understand some German people are frustrated from the current situation. Inflation and increasing number of immigrants. I see some immigrants who do things in their own way, behave roughly, don't follow the local rules. I don't like it either.
I will see what happens. Germany may shift to a wrong direction but at the same time it is a country of my partner and it kindly let me stay for more than 10 years.
Thanks for your interest in this article. It is instructive to hear the real impressions of people living in Germany.
What I have found out is that the so-called West has been at war a lot without much questioning. It is no wonder that this has led to an exodus of refugees.
I think Germany is a good country with a strong welfare system, but as the German movie "Look Who's Back" foretold, we need to be careful about the Green Party. I hope you and your partner can continue to live happily in Germany.