Minority groups warn that the policies of the far-right AfD will not only affect local or national politics.
As voters prepare to go to the polls in the German states of SajoniaThuringia and Brandenburg in September, minority groups are raising their concerns on the potential rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany, in German Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The next regional elections could mark the best electoral sample of the AfD so far, with the party vote around 30% in Thuringia.
Majid Albunni, a Syrian refugee who became a German citizen after fleeing the war in 2013, is one of those voicing his concerns. Albunni, who hopes to be able to vote in future elections, is urging others to speak out against the rise of the AfD. “Those who don’t like, or at least know they don’t like, these ideas are silent about it, and that’s disappointing.”Albunni said. “We have to be active as pro-democracy actors, we have to really show that we are the majority, and I believe we are the majority.”
The office of American Jewish Committee in Berlin has also published a booklet detailing what it describes as the anti-Semitic ideology of the AfD and its links to extremism. Despite assurances from other political parties that they will not form coalitions with the AfD, the committee warns that there are still risks. “Perhaps after the regional elections we will see that it will be very difficult for the other parties to form a coalition without the AfD,” said Remko Leemhuis, director of the American Jewish Committee’s Berlin office. “That could mean a closed political system with no functioning government.”
He Central Council of Jews in Germany echoed these concerns, underscoring the national implications of the regional elections: “The far right has a political network and is gaining political power. This makes it particularly dangerous for our liberal democracy and, consequently, for Jewish life.” said Nils Lange, spokesman for the council.
Possible consequences of AfD policies beyond Germany
The party has proposed holding a referendum on whether Germany should leave the European Uniona measure that Gokay Sofuoglupresident of the Turkish Community in Germany, believes that could threaten the entire European system. “The AfD is an anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim and anti-democratic party. It is also the party that denies fascism and the Holocaust,” Sofuoglu said.
He debate on migration and refugeesa central theme in the AfD platform, has been revived by recent events, including a fatal attack in the western German city of Solingen, allegedly carried out by a Syrian national.
The AfD quickly exploited the incident for its campaign, but Albunni remains hopeful: “I still believe that German society is well educated and can differentiate between an extremist individual and a group of people”said.
As the election approaches, warnings from minority groups underline the significant impact these results could have both in Germany and across Europe.
