Political leaders from the community and from different European countries have shown their concern about the rise of extremism.
The results of the two state elections in eastern Germany They have shocked all of Europe. The fact that a large number of voters have chosen a far-right party which often relativizes the Nazi past is viewed with disbelief and horror on the continent.
Valérie Hayer, president of the Liberal Group in it European Parliamentdescribed this event as “unprecedented” and spoke of a “dark day” for Germany and Europe.
The EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Paolo Gentilonipointed out that the majority of the extreme right and the populist extreme left pose a threat. “Friends of Russia in a former satellite state of the USSR. Enemies of immigrants in a German region with little immigration. Resentment against everything and everyone“.
Will the election results influence foreign policy?
It is unlikely that the AfD and Sahra Wagenknecht turn this majority into a government coalitionBut could this strong feeling anti-Ukrainian and pro-Russian influence the German or even European position of support for Ukraine?
Peter Hefe, political director of the Wilfried Martens Center, assures in statements to ‘Euronews’ that “the countries they do not decide on foreign policy. “So we know that support in Germany is pretty high according to all the polls, and that’s true for Europe as well.”
“But if we look at the figures of young people who voted up to 40% for extremist partiesit’s about the future and the vision we can give them, and of course the hopes,” he adds.
A problem for the energy transition?
One of the big losers in the two state elections were lthe Greenswhich are part of the federal government. In Thuringia, not a single deputy managed to enter the state parliament.
Will this be a problem for the energy transition in Germany? German Greens MEP Michael Bloss believes more should be reported on what has already been achieved, especially in eastern Germany.
“We have to give more recognition to the efforts that many people in eastern Germany have already made for the transition, because they are experts in change. They have achieved it in 35 years since the fall of the Wall,” he tells ‘Euronews’.
Now it is up to the newly elected deputies in Saxony and Thuringia form new Governments, since they cannot trust the previous coalitions, with which they are already familiar.
