Rise of the far right in Germany: how worried should we be? – The Latest
Summary
Guardian correspondent Deborah Cole analyzes Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s devastating local election losses, which saw the CDU fall below the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern for the first time since WWII. The episode explores the surge of the far-right AfD as a protest vote against cost-of-living issues and deindustrialization, particularly in former East Germany. Cole discusses Merz’s historic low approval ratings and the constitutional barriers preventing his immediate removal, while also comparing the situation to UK political trends. Finally, the segment assesses the broader Europ…
Topics discussed
Introduction: Far-right rise and Merz's low approval ratings
Devastating local election results for the CDU in Meck-Pomm
Comparison with Angela Merkel and the rise of the AfD
Reasons for voter shift to the far-right and protest voting
Gains for the Left party and the erosion of the center
Can Chancellor Merz survive? Constitutional barriers and political stability
Drawing parallels to UK politics and the 'Starmer effect'
Merz's communication style, empathy deficit, and public backlash
European implications: Far-right momentum in France, Italy, and beyond
Outro, credits, and podcast promotions
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