Description: With German elections on 23 Feb rapidly closing in, Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) still topped the election polls despite proposing the tightening of immigration laws alongside the Christian Social Union (CSU). Support has plummeted for current Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ Social Democrats (SPD) while the Green party alongside the Left Party gained some political traction with expected 5% of voting support. The German public was enraged with CDU’s cooperation with the far – right AfD, as last weeks protest demonstrated, although the CDU introduced tighter immigration laws which hadn’t passed in Parliament with AfD’s support. Concerns are raised over the establishment of a far – right led policy government as every party fought for every vote in the last couple of weeks.
Impact: The global trend of resurgence in far – right political parties is mostly emphasized in Germany as AfD has gained on popularity and substantial political sway in the past couple of years. With the current German political establishment faltering in the latest polls, a coalition between either CDU and CSU or CDU or AfD is on the table. The projected Chancellor Friedrich Merz although refraining himself from far – right policies and cooperation with the AfD raised serious concerns with the introduction of the immigration legislature. Germany as the industrial, economic and defense centerpiece in Europe plays a crucial role to the economic stability and defense capabilities in the continent, possible political destabilization could cause further misalignment on the European joint front. Europe is now facing severe security threats from Russia as well as energy dependency, Germany’s political stability plays a key role in facilitating stable future for Europe.