Germany Has Significant Problems That the Other Parties Have Failed to Solve

DN's Anna-Lena Laurén explains which ones. The atmosphere at AfD's election rally in Quedlinburg is so cordial that it is hard not to get caught up in it. The right-wing radical Alternative for Germany usually thrives on fueling discontent.

But this moped caravan was about joy: belonging to a community. As the convoy of East German-made Simson mopeds roars off in a noisy, jubilant crowd, I think: How will the other parties ever be able to match this? They cannot.

AfD has succeeded in something that is almost impossible for established parties in today's Germany, namely making voters feel: I count. AfD supporters felt unfairly treated. Now they can triumphantly sweep through Saxony-Anhalt on their East German mopeds and vote for a party that says: The others have betrayed you, but we will give you vindication.

Gasoline should not cost a fortune. Your health insurance should be comprehensive even if you are not rich. A large part of AfD's success is linked to East Germans' post-communist hangover.

Many East Germans are disappointed in democracy – it did not give them everything they wished for. West Germans perceive this as infantile. West Germans believe East Germans got everything for free (West German high-income earners still pay an extra tax rate to cover the costs of reunification in 1990).

East Germans point out that West Germans made lucrative deals on their property markets and bought up their old traditional companies at bargain prices. But AfD's advance is not only about East German frustration. The party has West German roots – it was founded in 2013 by West German right-wing liberals and eurosceptics.

The demand then was that Germany should not pay for the bankrupt Greece's debts. Today, support is also growing in the West. This is despite the fact that the German security service has defined the party as extremist.

One of the biggest reasons is the failures of the old parties. Problem number one: Energy policy became a flop. Germany voluntarily gave up nuclear power in 2000. It was Social Democrat Gerhard Schröder's decision, confirmed and accelerated by Christian Democrat Angela Merkel.

Nuclear power was to be replaced by Russian fossil gas, which led to German industry, the country's economic backbone, becoming Putin's hostage. But that was not how it was seen then. Russia was to be democratized through trade; it was supposed to be a win-win solution.

Then Russia attacked Ukraine. Now Germany has the highest energy prices in Europe. It hits low-income earners hardest.

For example, in Saxony-Anhalt, where AfD has 42 percent voter support, the average salary is among the lowest in Germany. At the same time, industrial jobs are being lost as fossil gas has become so expensive that factories sometimes have to halt production. Saxony-Anhalt has several such industries, including fertilizer factories.

The Christian Democrats and Social Democrats were involved in making the decisions that led to this energy policy dead end. Something AfD never fails to point out. Problem number two: The gigantic German welfare state is very expensive.

At the same time, it is inefficient. For example, health insurance costs so much that low-income earners often can only afford the most basic model – which only covers basic needs. Premiums have risen continuously, yet the money is not enough and the fee is constantly being raised.

There are 93 health insurance funds in Germany, all with their own administrative costs. high premiums. Despite this, they lack comprehensive coverage.

This creates enormous bitterness. At the same time, business owners complain about increasing bureaucracy and high employer contributions. Germany is dependent on its so-called Mittelstand, that is, its small and medium-sized enterprises.

Every government has promised to abolish bureaucracy for them. Yet it has only increased. Problem number three: Immigration policy.

In 2015, Germany received half a million refugees, the most in Europe. Eleven years later, bitter Christian Democrats call this a gift to AfD. However, immigration is needed – Germany suffers from a severe shortage of skilled workers.

At the same time, unemployment among people with immigrant backgrounds is twice as high as among native Germans. An important reason is that language learning has not worked. In addition, almost 260,000 people who have received deportation orders are staying in Germany.

Sometimes they remain for years. AfD gets votes by constantly highlighting these circumstances. The other parties respond by boycotting the party and keeping it out of government.

This has led to a backlash among voters. Many AfD supporters point out that the party was not involved in making these decisions, and that it should therefore be allowed to try its model. Arguing against such reasoning is difficult – the logic appears watertight.

Germany's historical experience of letting right-wing radicals govern still frightens a large part of the electorate. But more and more people believe Germany can no longer take this into account.