The controversial far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is steadily advancing in the opinion polls in the country. In addition to being climate sceptics, their causes are anti-immigration and anti-Islam. The party is strong in some states and is at around 20 per cent in the polls. By comparison, the government party is at around 30 per cent. – There is cause for concern because far-right actors are mobilizing an exclusionary form of nationalism that attacks key human rights such as religious freedom and minority protection, says Cathrine Thorleifsson at UiO. Deportation plans Last week, the investigative journalists in the website Correctiv revealed that members of the AfD had met right-wing extremists from other European countries in the city of Potsdam in November. At the secret meeting, they discussed, among other things, forcibly deporting millions of immigrants in the country to something they called a “model state in Africa”. These plans are not part of the party programme, but caused many to rage. – I’m scared. I don’t feel safe anymore, and I want that to end. I do not have a German passport, but wish to stay in Germany. I have the right to that, says Ekaterina Kolesnikova in Munich to the Associated Press. Residents of over 40 German cities took to the streets to demonstrate against right-wing extremism. Photo: AFP Bekymra The far-right party is in government coalitions in several European countries. – The far right has increasingly gained a lot of support during elections in Europe. In some European countries where the far right rules, such as in Hungary, democratic institutions are being systematically dismantled, says Cathrine Thorleifsson. She is an associate professor at the Department of Social Anthropology at UiO and heads the Commission on Extremism, which will help prevent radicalization and extremism. Thorleifsson believes that the refugee trauma in 2015 is the very backdrop for the right-wing extremism that is now on the rise in Germany. Cathrine Thorleifsson at UiO has carried out extensive ethnographic fieldwork among far-right activists. Photo: Andreas Kleiberg / University of Oslo – Germany received the most asylum seekers in Europe. Two years later, in 2017, AfD became the third largest party in the country. The backlash is so strong because Germany has a history from the Second World War, she says. She believes that Norway is not immune to the phenomenon. – We cannot take democracy for granted – history has shown us that. Norwegian politicians must promote different opinions, but should watch out for rhetoric that plays on xenophobia and exclusionary nationalism. The most important thing is to build resilience in the population against authoritarian attacks on democracy and human rights, says Thorleifsson. Enormous mobilization Residents in over 40 German cities have recently taken to the streets to demonstrate against right-wing extremism. According to the organizers, 1.4 million people showed up to show their displeasure. – Alternatives for Germany and similar forces are very loud. We have a stable democracy, and we can never allow it to be attacked the way Alternative for Germany attacked it, said Nina Dabringhaus in Berlin to the Associated Press. The demonstrators called for unity and tolerance. – We are here primarily for our grandchildren, that they still have a future. That they can continue to live in a rule of law with democracy, human rights and a colorful community, said Ingelene Miltz during the demonstrations. “Dexit” – The populist far-right party lives by creating controversy, says Astrid Sverresdotter Dypvik, editor in Syn og Segn. Earlier, one of the leaders in the party advocated leaving the EU in what she refers to as “Dexit”. – Great Britain’s way out of the EU is something to be inspired by. Taking such an independent decision is a model for Germany, said Alice Weidel. Alice Weidel in Alternative for Germany. Photo: AFP The party was initially founded as a Eurosceptic party. They believe that Germany pays too much to the EU and that the country finances the rest of Europe. – The AfD believes that Germany will be the cow of the EU because they have to take care of other countries and thus cannot follow their own superpower interests. They want Germany to have self-determination, says Dypvik. Alternative for Germany’s policy is different from the other parties in the country, where support for the EU is great. The German party now refuses to cooperate with the AfD. – The party has not tried its hand at power anywhere because other German parties refuse to cooperate with them on any level. They think the AfD is a racist and anti-democratic party that wants to undermine the German state as we know it, says Dypvik.
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Far-right wave in Germany – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
