What Germany can learn from others in dealing with the AfD

A group of people standing around each other holding signs

The AfD doubled its vote share in Germany’s 2025 federal election, achieving dominance in eastern states with over 30% of votes but also making significant gains in the west. Its success stems from mobilizing non-voters, attracting disaffected voters from other parties, and exploiting migration fears. Despite this, its extremist stance remains polarizing. Germany’s democratic parties still have a chance to stem the tide, but they must act now.

Was ist los in Kaiserslautern?

Zunächst mit dem SWR und dann mit dem Deutschlandfunk habe ich über das relativ gute Abschneiden der AfD im Wahlkreis Kaiserslautern gesprochen. Der Artikel beim SWR hat mir die bislang originellste Beleidigung meiner Karriere eingebacht: meine Uni sei so schlecht, dass sie demnächst komplett aus dem Ranking fallen werde. Womit ich das verdient habe, kann…

New publication: the 2024 European parliamentary elections in Germany and 26 other EU member states

New publication: the 2024 European parliamentary elections in Germany and 26 other EU member states 1

After the 2019 Green wave, many observers expected a blue-brownish backlash for 2024. And in many countries, these observers (who are these people, and why are they always so well-informed?) were not disappointed. In Germany, the governing “progressive” coalition took a rather spectacular beating, while the main opposition, the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) performed ok-ish. The…