Political scientist Dr. Antonios Souris believes that the success of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the European elections can be attributed to their effective use of social media. This comes as the top European candidate for the AfD, Maximilian Krah, has been ousted from the newly elected European Parliament delegation, with Rene Aust taking over the leadership role. The AfD is seeking to rejoin the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in Brussels, following suggestions from Marine Le Pen to expel the party for being ‘too extreme’. Co-chairperson Alice Weidel has called for a snap election in Germany, stating that people want the AfD to take on governmental responsibility. She criticized the Greens, saying they are a party of prohibitions that ruin everything.
Following the European elections, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) emerged as the winning party. However, the AfD performed well, especially among young voters. Dr. Souris highlighted the success of the CDU and CSU as a strong democratic opposition, but also pointed out worrisome regional differences in right-wing voting. He emphasized the need for the three governing parties to stop competing with each other and focus on policy solutions to problems. Dr. Souris also called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to better explain policies to the public. Despite the Social Democrats’ historic defeat in the elections, Scholz has ruled out calling for an early snap election, with the AfD setting its sights on becoming the ruling government in the 2025 federal elections.
Weidel stressed the need for the AfD to take on governmental responsibility, as she believes the party has the support of the people to lead. She criticized the Greens, accusing them of ruining the foundations of government and being a party of prohibitions. Co-leader Tino Chrupalla highlighted the desire among voters for the return of nuclear energy and the ability to drive combustion engine cars. The AfD’s focus on these issues, along with their strong social media campaign, contributed to their success in the European elections. Dr. Souris commended the record-breaking voter turnout of 65% but raised concerns about regional differences in right-wing voting.
Dr. Souris emphasized the importance of a strong democratic opposition, as seen with the success of the CDU and CSU. He also highlighted the need for policy solutions to problems, rather than parties competing with each other. As the AfD looks towards the 2025 federal elections as a potential ruling government, they will need to continue to focus on their key issues and engage with voters effectively. With the Greens facing criticism for their policies, the AfD sees an opportunity to position themselves as a viable alternative for government leadership. Overall, the European elections have shown both positive signs, such as record voter turnout, and worrisome trends, such as regional differences in voting. It will be crucial for all parties to address these issues moving forward.
