German anti-immigrant party beats Merkel’s party in her home state

[inanna]

Source: Reuters

Published Sunday, Sep. 04, 2016 1:21PM EDT

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats fell to third place in a state election on Sunday behind the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, TV projections showed.

In a stinging defeat for Merkel in her home district one year ahead of federal elections, the upstart AfD won 21.4 percent of the vote in their first election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern by campaigning hard against the chancellor’s policies on refugees, according to a projection by ZDF TV at 1615 GMT.

<snip>

Founded in 2013, the AfD now has won seats in nine of the 16 state assemblies across the country. However, it has no chance of governing in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since the other parties have said they would not form a coalition with the party.

The AfD is also making gains nationwide, a new poll showed on Sunday. If the national election were held next week, the AfD would win 12 percent of the vote, making it the third-largest party in Germany, according to a poll conducted by the Emnid institute for the Bild newspaper and published on Sunday.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/german-anti-immigrant-party-beats-merkels-party-in-her-home-state/article31704863/

[LeftishBrit]

1. Horrible. The poison is everywhere.

[yeoman6987]

2. I am sure merkle expected this

Now how she governs the next 12 months will determine her future.

[pampango]

3. The election was actually won by a center-left party. The RW populists were a distant second.

Merkel's party beaten by rightwing populists in state election

First projections after polls closed see the centre-left SPD on 30.3%, anti-immigration AfD on 21.8% and the chancellor’s centre-right CDU suffering its all-time lowest result in the eastern state, with 19%.

Though the result will not have a direct impact on the workings of the German government and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern only has a population of 1.6 million, it has a symbolic value with regional elections in Berlin on 18 September and a general election coming up next year.

While the Social Democrats emerged as the largest party on the night and the result for the Christian Democrats are particularly humiliating, leftwing parties in the state also suffered considerable losses. The Left party won 12.5%, down from 18.4% five years ago, while the pro-environment Greens won 5% , down from 8.7%.

The far-right National Democratic party, which has been represented in the state parliament for the last 10 years, fell beneath the 5% threshold for the first time in a decade, on 3.2%.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/04/mecklenburg-vorpommern-german-anti-immigrant-party-strong-regional-election-exit-polls-merkel

[Red Mountain]

12. Hell, yes, center left SPD

Looks like you'll be in charge of the inevitable coalition party.

[Dieter1]

4. Good

Maybe she will start listening to her constituents instead of unilaterally making a decision that was unpopular not only in Germany, but in the rest of the EU too

[uppityperson]

5. Welcome to DU. What decision was that?

[Hav]

9. I guess she should have gone against existing rules and conventions

In particular closing the borders and letting someone else deal with the refugees. There is this sentiment in a particular segment of the population, that I regard comparable to the alt-right, that everyone in Germany agrees with their rightwing views. That is why one can often see views like “Merkel decided it against the wishes of the population.“,“No one in Germany wanted this.“ etc. You can see it in this thread as well.

[smirkymonkey]

46. I agree with you.

She has handled this badly. Her arrogance knows no bounds.

BTW, welcome to DU!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

6. Keep in mind that she went fairly far to the right herself....

To think there was concern she may have been too far to the left because of being from East Germany.

As if Leninist authoritarian, police state communism is what us lefties want.

[FLPanhandle]

7. The lesson for Merkel is not to go against the wishes of her own citizens

She acted as if she knew better than the "unwashed masses", so they will be removing her from power.

It's a lesson for all elected governments, if you go against the wishes of your citizens, then they will vote for whomever listens to them.

[DonCoquixote]

10. so that means

if the masses want to consider someone less of a human being because their skin is darker, that is just a-ok?

[christx30]

11. That means that if the population that is working

and paying taxes and voting have very real and understandable concerns about an issue, don't blow off those concerns or dismiss them as racism, because there are going to be politicians that won't blow them off. And the population will elect politicians that are going to listen to them.
If you just blow everything off, you will find yourself out of a job.

[Lordquinton]

13. Don't blow off racists as racist?

Some views are not worth considering, unfortunately the USA has been very good at giving a global voice to that crowd. It also sounds like anyone not in that party wants nothing to do with them, so their power is meaningless.

[whathehell]

27. Opposing completely unfettered immigration is NOT necessarily racist..

First of all. most, if not on all, middle-easterners are not of a different 'race' than native Germans -- They are Caucasian. The real differences would be cultural, not racial.

I doubt I'm alone in being tired of attempts to automatically shut down all discussion on the topic with this b.s. response.

[treestar]

30. How was this unfettered?

If the law allows her to decide, she decides.

[whathehell]

34. Apparently, the people didn't like her decision

and think immigration should be more restrictive.

[treestar]

38. It's what the law says it is

and I don't think Germany is now a tyranny any more than the US.

The US has laws about it. Our elected official, the POTUS, decides. There are some limits on the numbers in the statutes, so his decision is not unfettered. If Germany gave their PM unfettered discretion, that was their choice.

[whathehell]

45. Apparently they don't want Angela,

whatever her responsibility for the current immigration laws.

Oh, and I never said anything about Germany being a 'tyranny'.

[pampango]

48. Good point. It is more nativism and religious intolerance than it is racism.

Fear of foreigners and Muslims (the refugees combine both) is more at the heart of AfD's message. It is quite similar to the themes that Trump campaigns on.

[whathehell]

57. There are reasons to oppose unrestricted immigration that have nothing to do with any "ism"

As others have pointed out, it's a complicated issue and not necessarily "Trumpian" or negative.

[pampango]

58. Of course there are. Accepting refugees is not the same as 'unrestricted immigration'.

Using a scary term like 'unrestricted immigration' does not make it so. Progressive countries like Sweden are quite liberal with their acceptance of refugees and with their immigration policies (though they are not 'unrestricted' either).

The same cannot be said of countries run by conservative governments or for politicians like Trump.

[whathehell]

60. No? Then go educate the Germans who seem to be having a difficult time with

the distinction right now.

[pampango]

62. I suspect the 21% of that rural province who voted for AfD would be hard to 'educate'

when it comes to how evil foreigners, particularly Muslims, are. Our Trump supporters would be equally difficult to 'educate'. That's why conservatives are so conservative.

[whathehell]

65. Yeah, well, you keep suspectng that..

while I go on to more interesting discussions.

[Yo_Mama]

52. Equating unrestricted immigration policies to racism is not honest

There is real sympathy in Germany for the actual refugees, but a lot of the people who came in aren't really refugees.

The rest of Europe got really angry with Merkel for her "Wir schaffen das" step. They aren't racists, for the most part, either.

What has happened and is happening in Europe and Germany is not simple.

[smirkymonkey]

47. +1000

[LanternWaste]

59. Many people believe that popular ideas equate to fair ideas.

Many people believe that popular ideas equate to fair ideas.

[Odin2005]

66. Opposing one's own citizens is completely right when one's citizens are Fascists.

[MADem]

8. Isn't her home state in the former East Germany?

Figures they'd be infected by that ugly former USSR-style racism that is shopped by the likes of Vlad Putin and Con-ald Trump.

[sherlocksistah]

67. "Germany's Pro-Putin Parties a Threat to Democracy"

so the AFD is pro Putin, that figures since Putin has his dirty little hands (and money) in every single right wing party in Europe now!

"Sahra Wagenknecht is a guiding light for Die LINKE (Left Party) in Germany while Frauke Petry currently leads the far-right AfD ("Alternative for Germany&quot . One wouldn't think the two had much in common - they are at the extreme opposite ends of the political spectrum. Both women want Germany to dissolve the trans-Atlantic partnership; both want Germany to leave the NATO alliance that has brought peace and prosperity to the nation for 70 year; both are sworn opponents of the American influence which they see as undermining Germany's "sovereignty". And both are strong advocates for appeasing Russia."

http://www.dialoginternational.com/dialog_international/2016/05/germanys-pro-putin-parties-a-threat-to-democracy-1.html

[Elmergantry]

14. This is what happens

When you allow a flood of people into your country whose culture and values is in complete opposition to your own, and your people are forced to financially support them to boot

[E-Z-B]

15. Bingo

[olddad56]

25. and it is all fallout from the illegal invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan by the US.

It was all caused the last time the people of the US were stupid enough of elect a fucking Republican.

[GulfCoast66]

61. I disagree

Syria weathered the Iraq thing OK. And it is their civil war causing most of the refugees.

Their problems got going after Tunisia had a successful revolution as did Egypt for a short period before the military, with our tacit approval, crushed it. The people in the gulf states tried and were repressed. Then we have Syria with a ruthless dictator. When his people went into the streets to protest, his troops start shooting them starting their civil war. That was not the fault of the US. And it cannot be said that the US supported Assad as his country has been sanctioned forever. The Russians get that particular blame.

The US has caused more than it's share of harm and misery, but it is inaccurate to lay all the problems on the Mideast at our feet.

And it helps build the narrative that the left dislikes the US since some on the left look to build their leftist credability by blaming all problems on us.

Have a nice day.

[NickB79]

63. The Syrian conflict was largely kicked off by climate change

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/05/syria-climate-years-living-dangerously-symbolia

[treestar]

31. that's always been the case

migrants are often from different cultures with different values yet everyone can get along. "Culture" and "values" is not just a euphemism for "racism" and "xenophobia."

[Elmergantry]

36. yeah right

So when one speaks out against an imported culture that treats women like dogs i am a racist. Ok whatever.

Not all cultures are equal. Some are better than others

[treestar]

37. They don't think they treat women like dogs

I actually don't think they do, though they are far behind us. However, we can live and let live and get along just fine. There's no reason to question Muslim women following their own customs in a western country. Leave them alone rather than "speaking out" so much. Those women will advance when they are ready. Why be so concerned? No one forces western women to do anything they don't want just because there are Muslims living around. It is not a genuine concern. Catholics who immigrated earlier were able to live amongst the previous Americans. They did not follow the Pope first, take over the government, and force everyone to be Catholic. Only bigots wanted them gone. The bigots sound the same no matter who the new group is. Always they are "too different" will "take over" and "won't assimilate" and always they do assimilate, contribute to the culture while changing theirs some, don't "take over" and are able to live and let live.

[Elmergantry]

39. wow. nt

[NuclearDem]

40. Yeah, New Years Eve in Cologne says you're wrong on that one.

[leftynyc]

64. Uh - no

If they want to come here and expect American taxpayers to foot the bill for them, they can leave their misogyny back in whatever shithole they left. I refuse to WAIT until they decide to get their shit together. Want to live in the west - get your shit together NOW.

[NuclearDem]

41. If you come to the West, you have to play by the West's rules.

And for a lot of people, that has to mean leaving a lot of really, really bad ideas behind.

[Elmergantry]

54. Exactly. When in Rome...

And speaking of Rome, This migrant invasion reminds me of how Rome fell. Poor Goths, fleeing the Huns, were let into Roman territory and promised to be loyal subjects...

[Rustyeye77]

42. "culture and values is in complete opposition to your own "

So much for multiculturism.

[Little Tich]

16. Racists - I don't like them, and I never will. n/t

It doesn't matter if they get 21.4% of the vote - they're still wrong...

[ansible]

17. So was letting in all refugees without any restrictions

There are consequences for stupid actions

[Little Tich]

19. The refugees must go somewhere.

FYI, Turkey has taken in several times more Syrian refugees than Germany (2.7 millions vs 600.000?) and they've got even less means to cope. Closing the borders won't solve any problems, so how do you suggest the refugee issue should be solved?

[oberliner]

22. How about Saudi Arabia?

How many hundreds of thousands have they taken in?

[Little Tich]

23. I suppose it doesn't hurt to ask a repressive dictatorship that doesn't care about its own

people to have a heart and give refugees asylum.

But, in the meantime...

[oberliner]

32. Turkey and Egypt could be described that way as well

Even Jordan.

Yet, those countries have taken in several million Syrian refugees between them.

[whathehell]

26. +10

[whathehell]

28. Thank you.

It needs to be said.

[treestar]

29. There were restrictions

or rules, or laws to go by.

Letting in refugees is humane. If people aren't humane, who cares about their alleged "concerns?"

[ck4829]

50. "Stupid actions" didn't start with letting in refugees and it won't end with rw psychos in power

[romanic]

18. That's what you get when you let in a million plus people

without a plan of even thinking of the cultural and societal consequences. I do not feel sorry for her or her party at all.

[moondust]

20. Unfortunately,

I could be wrong but I'm guessing that most of the refugees are not yet eligible to vote. How many politicians can you name who would use their power to act in such an exemplary humanitarian fashion knowing they might never reap any political benefit from it?

AfD, National Front, Brexit, Duterte, Erdogan, tRump...

[oberliner]

21. Alternate headline: Left-leaning Social Democrats defeat Merkel's RW conservative party

Which would be the accurate way to report the story.

[Little Tich]

24. The SPD is a normal party. There's no shame to lose to them.

The problem is that German racists are gaining power and acceptance.

[oberliner]

33. Yes, indeed

But it is newsworthy that they were able to defeat Merkel on her home turf.

The right-wing party lost.

[pampango]

35. Taking in refugees is liberal policy (see Canada). Conservatives (German and American) don't like it

Conservatives are always energized by adoption of liberal policies whether it is civil rights, gay rights, legalized abortion, refugees, you name it. As liberals we should not make a habit of adopting conservative policies in order to keep conservatives from winning elections.

[Rustyeye77]

43. I like that Germany took in all these refugees.

They should take in every refugee.

So rape is skyrocketing...
So Germans live in fear...
So German citizens have to pay for them...

Good Luck Angela

[Imperialism Inc.]

49. Oh look! Its the German Donald Trump!

[LeftishBrit]

44. BTW the headline is misleading...

It implies that the AfD won. But they didn't even come close to winning. It was the Social Democrats, who are to the left of Merkel, who won!

It reminds me of by-elections won comfortably by Labour, which resulted in screaming headlines in the British tabloid press: 'UKIP BEAT LIBDEMS IN CORBY!', etc.. but only mentioning the winning party in the small print.

[foo_bar]

55. iirc SPD lost vote share (something like 35%->30%) while AfD went from nothing to 20%

And yeah, this being Germany, an unknown far-right party going from nowhere to second place is a little troubling in the context of this milquetoast CDU/SPD-for-life don't-rock-the-boat body politic. Anyway, this from Prenzlauer Berg:



Not sure why the sign's in English (or her T-shirt), or why they're channeling Yoda (is "ausficken" a separable verb?), but I think it's important to note the centre-left's contribution to German fascism and the historical fecklessness of the left in parliamentary systems when there's a dozen People's Fronts of Judaea versus everyone to the right of Rosa Luxemburg.

[Agnosticsherbet]

51. Facism feeds on fear

[Hav]

53. Hilarious to see so many DUers cheering for the success of a far right-wing party

because it is at the expense of a center right party that would be probably to the left of the Republicans and in Merkel's case, even to the left of some Democrats.
Instead, it's apparently better that the votes go to what is basically the Trump party. Demagogues, islamophobes, racists...appealing to the worst in us, feeding and courting the anger vote without offering real solutions.
Imagine that. Not content with Obama? Let's teach him a lesson and vote for Trump!

[ck4829]

56. +1

I've been here since 2004, and it's kind of weird to suddenly see threads of the nature I've started to see here recently and I don't know about you, but I've witnessed some threads that have made my jaw drop, it's just good to know that these threads usually have some people posting who are not giving into paranoia and even subtle right wing talking points.

Here's an example; it's not the OP, but if you read the replies, you will see the structural problem going on.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7984234