Merkel carves out another win

German voters displayed political maturity and acumen in the recently-held elections when they gave victory to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s political party for the fourth time on the trot. Arguably, it was the toughest election victory carved out by Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union which bagged 33 per cent of the vote. Winning a fourth term is extremely significant from different aspects.



First, it is a testament to the fact that the majority of Germans continue to have full faith in the principles of tolerance, moderation and human rights, of which Merkel has been an emblem. Since 2015 her government has allowed more than a million refugees and migrants from war- and conflict-torn countries, mostly from Syria as well as Iraq and Afghanistan, into Germany. Consequently, she had come under vitriolic criticism from extremist German social and political groups, who have been terming her refugee and immigration policies catastrophic for the German state and society. However, she has been resolute and has not swerved from her stand on refugees and migrants. This is despite the fact that a large number of these refugees and immigrants have been involved in criminal and other anti-social activities like female harassment in Germany. Their involvement in such negative activities strengthened the hand of Merkel’s opponents, who accused her of pursuing policies that put the lives and liberties of Germans at risk. Nevertheless, her resoluteness on the question of refugees and migrants deserves kudos. Having said this, it must be mentioned that giving shelter to millions of refugees and migrants from conflict-ridden regions in Germany is not a durable solution. The panacea is establishing sustainable democratic system and structures of good governance in these war and conflict-ravaged states.

Under Merkel’s policy to allow access to millions of refugees and migrants in Germany, the predominant number of those who have reached the Deutschland is of Muslims. Therefore, these Muslims must be especially indebted to Merkel and her political grouping. This policy has put a very strong message of interfaith harmony in Germany across to the rest of the world. Resultantly, the stature of Germany, its leadership and institutions has increased. The electoral success of Merkel and her party is indeed reassuring for international harmony and stability at a time when the US, the leader of the West, is ruled by the eccentric and erratic President Donald Trump.

The far-right new political group, Alternative for Germany (AfD), has emerged as the third-largest political group in Germany. Its rising popularity is a matter of concern for the majority of liberals and politically conservative population of the country. Leaders of more populist parties have termed the AfD ‘Nazis’ and ‘fascists’ after Adolf Hitler, whose Nazi Party entered the power corridors in 1933 through the vote but pushed Germany and the world into the Second World War.

While calling AfD ‘Nazis’ may not be appropriate, the Islamophobic group entering the German lower house of parliament would affect the country’s policies as well as social psychology. In the years ahead, it would be interesting to see how radical parties like the AfD use the parliamentary forum to strengthen itself.



There is a very important aspect of the political ascendance of groups like the AfD. Like emergence of far-right parties elsewhere in the world believing in discovering their group and (ethno) national identities, the AfD is a party which wants to preserve the German identity on the slogan ‘Germany for Germans’. Therefore, its rise may not come as a surprise and it is possible that in the next elections it may leave all other parties behind. But for now, it is Merkel and her liberal-conservative political group which matters the most in German politics.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2017.

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