Germans Cast Votes Amid Far-Right Surge and Trump’s Influence

BERLIN, Feb 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Germans headed to the polls on Sunday for a critical election, with conservative candidate Friedrich Merz leading the charge after a campaign marred by a rise in far-right sentiment and the dramatic return of former US President Donald Trump to the international stage.

Merz, the frontrunner in the race, has pledged a sharp rightward shift if elected, aiming to recapture voters from the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is poised for a record-breaking result. This surge comes after a series of high-profile attacks, some blamed on asylum seekers, fueling growing fears around immigration.

Merz has promised a strong voice for Germany in Europe, particularly at a time of unprecedented global disruption. If he succeeds in replacing embattled Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the centre-left SPD, as predicted by polling data, Merz aims to reassert Germany’s power on the European stage.

Daniel Hofmann, a 62-year-old urban planner who voted in Berlin, described his decision as a “civic duty,” stressing the importance of change in these “uncertain times.” He expressed hope for a transformation in the country’s political direction.

With more than 59 million eligible voters, early estimates based on exit polls are expected after polls close at 6:00 pm (1700 GMT). The outcome is critical for the future of Germany, the EU’s largest economy, which is experiencing significant turmoil due to shifting US-Europe relations under Trump’s leadership, particularly his outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin to broker an end to the Ukraine war.

At his final campaign rally in Munich, Merz emphasized that Europe must be assertive to maintain its standing among global powers. His confidence was evident as he told supporters, “We will win the elections, and then the nightmare of this government will be over.”

In a surprising development, the AfD has gained international backing, with figures like billionaire Elon Musk endorsing the party as the only force capable of “saving Germany.” The AfD, which is particularly strong in the former East Germany, is poised to achieve its best result yet, bolstered by growing anger over deadly attacks linked to asylum seekers.

In December, a Saudi man drove a car through a Christmas market, killing six people and injuring many more. The attacks continued in the following months, with Afghan asylum seekers blamed for a stabbing spree targeting kindergarten children and another car-ramming incident in Munich. Most recently, a Syrian man was arrested in Berlin for allegedly trying to kill a Jewish person after stabbing a tourist at the city’s Holocaust memorial.

For some voters like Janine Wirmer, a 32-year-old project manager from Frankfurt, the rise of the AfD is deeply concerning. She expressed worries about the party’s growing strength but emphasized that her priorities remain focused on climate protection and the ongoing situation in Ukraine, especially in light of Trump’s shifting stance on global issues.

With the AfD’s influence growing, Merz has argued that the next government must urgently address the concerns of voters, warning that failure to do so could further embolden the far-right.

Political analyst Michael Broening noted that this election could be a “last chance” for Germany’s mainstream parties to stem the far-right tide. He stressed that the economic stagnation, immigration challenges, and widespread voter disaffection must be addressed. Failure to deliver meaningful solutions, he cautioned, could permanently shift the political landscape.

Looking ahead, the next German leader faces potential challenges from the United States, particularly if Trump escalates tensions with a trade war, which could harm Germany’s already struggling economy. When asked about the German elections, Trump dismissed the issue, stating, “I wish them luck, we’ve got our own problems.”

As the election results unfold, Chancellor Scholz will remain in office as a caretaker until a new multi-party government is formed, a process Merz has expressed confidence will be completed by Easter.