Alegeri în Germania. Ascensiunea AfD și riscul strategiei lui Merz. Analist: „Nu mai bine aleg originalul?"

The rise of the far-right AfD party in Germany reflects deeper societal discontent, as highlighted by analyst Cătălin Buciumeanu. He warns that the CDU's strategy to adopt AfD themes may strengthen the latter's position. Upcoming elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania could pressure the federal coalition led by Merz, despite not directly threatening his position. The AfD has mobilized new voters, indicating a shift beyond mere protest votes. Economic difficulties and historical frustrations, particularly in East Germany, contribute to this trend. Buciumeanu suggests that the CDU's alignment with AfD rhetoric risks validating their arguments without attracting voters back to traditional parties. He emphasizes the need for governments to address social grievances through concrete policies to avoid empowering extremist forces.