Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has expressed concern about the increasing right-wing populism in Germany. In an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” he called on citizens to vote responsibly in the upcoming elections.
“If we look back into history, we realize that extremists have always been the misfortune of our country.” In this context, Steinmeier also referred to the recently announced meeting between right-wing extremist circles and AfD officials in Potsdam. This shows “that we have to be very vigilant”.
The AfD is stable at over 20 percent in opinion polls nationwide. In Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg, where new state parliaments will be elected in September, it is over 30 percent. According to the surveys, it is by far the strongest force in all three federal states.
Steinmeier thinks little of procedures to ban the AfD
Germany has so far lived very well with its democracy, as shaped by the Basic Law, said Steinmeier. “Many things have been achieved in this country that others long for.” This was successful because there was a willingness to compromise even after sharp political disputes. “I would very much like every voter to remember this very clearly before casting their vote.” He hopes that everyone who votes “does so not only in a mood of anger or frustration – but also with awareness of the consequences.”
Steinmeier made it clear that he thinks little of a process to ban the AfD. He couldn’t assess the chances of success and the process would probably take a very long time. “I recommend that we concentrate on what is possible and necessary this year: we should give better answers, we should organize democratic majorities and strengthen them.”
“Decisions not sufficiently communicated”
Steinmeier also calls on the federal government to involve citizens more in important decisions and to also involve the opposition. The many successive crises created uncertainty, he said, referring to the traffic light coalition’s poor poll numbers. “But it is also clear that if a government’s credibility declines, this is also due to the fact that decisions have not been sufficiently communicated or accepted or are being overshadowed by internal disputes that are leaking out to the outside world. The government must have an interest in this to improve.”
The debates in Germany have become more heated and there is a growing acceptance of populist positions that make governing more difficult, said Steinmeier. “This causes unrest, including among those responsible for politics. This makes it all the more important to find the strength to work together.”
The Federal President emphasized: “Citizens have the expectation that those responsible in parliament will recognize when the whole thing is really at stake.” There have always been situations in the history of the Federal Republic where the government and the opposition came together even after the sharpest disputes – for example on the questions of ties to the West, the Eastern treaties or the asylum compromise in 1993. “I hope that this is not ruled out now either.”
The CDU chairman Friedrich Merz has long complained that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is not responding to offers of cooperation, for example on a cross-party compromise to limit disorderly immigration to Germany. Prime ministers complain that the relationship between the federal and state governments is worse than it has been for a long time. The federal government makes many decisions without involving the states affected
