How US interference affects elections in Germany and what the debates revealed
On Sunday, Germany held its first-ever "quadrille" – a pre-election debate featuring four chancellor candidates, highlighting the growing strength of the far-right.
The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD), led by Alice Weidel, currently ranks second in polls and is poised to double its results compared to the 2021 elections.
Read more in the article by Khrystyna Bondarieva, a European Pravda journalist – Trump’s first European elections: how US interference will affect voting in Germany.
Just a few days ago, Germany’s main political opponents were busy criticising CDU leader Friedrich Merz for a controversial parliamentary vote alongside the far right.
US Vice President J.D. Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference, where he called for cooperation with the far right, forced German politicians to unite in opposition, declaring that interference from American allies is unacceptable.
The leading chancellor candidate, Friedrich Merz, stated that "The elephant in the room is the transatlantic relationship." He emphasised that Germany respects the electoral processes in the US and expects the same in return. Markus Söder, leader of CDU’s sister party CSU, reinforced this sentiment, insisting that Germany alone will decide its coalition partners.
German parties have a long-standing tradition of avoiding alliances with radical right-wing forces to prevent repeating the mistakes that once led to Hitler's rise to power.
It is likely that US pressure on Berlin will continue even after the election campaign ends. During coalition negotiations, Trump’s allies may push for the inclusion of the second-place party in the new government.
Given the strong reaction from German politicians, transatlantic relations are set to face serious challenges.
On Sunday, the four main chancellor candidates, Friedrich Merz, Olaf Scholz, Robert Habeck, and Alice Weidel, met in a televised debate on RTL to continue discussions sparked by Vance’s remarks.
Unlike in Munich or last week’s debate, the far-right representative was given airtime to spread her narratives. While Weidel did not make any groundbreaking statements that could dramatically alter AfD’s standing, her mere presence further normalised the extremist party in German society.
According to a Forsa poll, Friedrich Merz was seen as the debate’s winner, with 32% of respondents saying he convinced them. Scholz followed with 25%, while both Habeck and Weidel received 18%.
Over two hours, the candidates discussed economic stimulation, taxation, migration, housing, and, of course, the new US administration’s approach to the war in Ukraine.
Weidel praised Donald Trump and reiterated AfD’s long-standing call for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Scholz, in contrast, emphasised continued support for Ukraine, insisting that Europe must ensure Ukraine maintains a strong army: "We will not allow Ukraine to be demilitarised."
Merz attacked Scholz for what he called Germany’s failure to show global leadership.
One unexpected development in the campaign could significantly impact post-election coalition dynamics – the Left Party. If they secure seats in the Bundestag, their presence could play a key role in shaping the future German government.