Lukas Hermsmeier

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How Germany Became Mean

EuropaUnión Europea

Germany occupies a special place in the international imagination. After the horrors of the Holocaust and the difficulties of reunification, the country acquired a reputation as a leader of the free world. Economically prosperous, politically stable and more welcoming to immigrants than most other countries, the Germans — many thought — had really learned their lesson.

The past few months have been a bit of a rude awakening. The economy is stuttering and a constitutional court ruling has upended the government’s spending plans. The far-right Alternative for Germany party, fresh from success in two regional elections, is cementing itself as the country’s second-most-popular party.…  Seguir leyendo »

Thomas Kemmerich, newly elected governor of Thuringia, arriving for a press conference on Thursday. Credit Getty Images

EuropaUnión Europea

Sometimes, it takes an earthquake to reveal what’s below the surface.

In the eastern German state of Thuringia this week a regional election displayed the disastrous state of Germany’s political center — and how far the country now stands from the anti-fascist consensus it proclaims to maintain.

On Wednesday, the state Parliament of Thuringia elected Thomas Kemmerich of the Free Democratic Party as the new governor. The only reason Mr. Kemmerich was able to win, though, was because he received the backing of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, known by its German initials AfD. The Free Democrats in Thuringia, along with members of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, agreed to the deal to ensure Mr.…  Seguir leyendo »

Kevin Kühnert, head of the Jusos youth organization, which has tried to drag Germany’s Social Democrats to the left. “We need a people’s party in the opposition to stand up to the AfD,” he said. Credit Patrik Stollarz/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

EuropaUnión Europea

The German left is in disastrous shape.

At worst, in the case of the Social Democrats, its support is eroding. At best, as in the case of the Greens and the Left Party, it is stagnating. Germany has no figures to excite left-wing voters as Bernie Sanders has done in the United States and Jeremy Corbyn has done in Britain. There is no growing anti-capitalist, anti-nationalist movement around which to anchor leftist policy.

This is especially dangerous right now, as German politics are in turmoil. Five months ago, a general election delivered disappointing results for both major parties, and no majority.…  Seguir leyendo »