Lawfare Archive: An Election in Germany
Summary
This episode analyzes the 2021 German federal election, where Angela Merkel’s CDU and the SPD finished nearly tied, ending the era of dominant catch-all parties. Guests Constanze Stelzenmüller and Jasha Munck discuss the likely formation of a "traffic light" coalition and the decline of extremist parties, though the AfD remains strong in eastern Germany. They also address concerns over Germany’s lack of strategic foreign policy vision and its potential "switzerlandization" amid rising authoritarianism in Europe.
Topics discussed
Introduction: 2026 Saxony-Anhalt elections and AFD rise
Archive intro: 2021 election results and guest introductions
Overview of German party landscape and 2021 results
Surprising nature of the 2021 election campaign
Decline of catch-all parties and coalition complexities
Coalition building options: Traffic Light vs. Jamaica
Was the election a referendum on Angela Merkel?
Foreign policy challenges for the new government
Lack of foreign policy focus in campaign debates
EU internal crises and Europe's geopolitical positioning
Transition to discussion on European populist trends
Sponsorship segments: Insurify, Rinse, CarGurus
European populist trends and Germany as an outlier
AFD performance in Eastern Germany and institutional strengths
Big takeaways: The 'dog that didn't bark' and climate politics
Conclusion: Future challenges for the German government
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