Nationalism as the decisive factor in the German elections

By Ali Mercan

Germany has entered the most intense and final phase of the election campaigns leading up to the February 23 elections. The main topics are immigration, foreign policy and the economy. As in the rest of Europe, the influence of global alignment is strongly felt in the German elections. Key factors nationalism, the nation-state and a production-based economy, with nationalism as the driving idea.

The crisis is not unique to Germany but extend across Western Europe. However, given Germany’s central role in the EU, the most striking manifestations are unfolding here.

The parties that formed the previous coalition—Social Democrats, Liberals, and Greens—are aligned with Atlanticist policies, advocating unwavering support for Ukraine and backing Israel’s expansionist policy. They argue that cuts to pensions and health insurance may be necessary to increase the defense budget. On the other side of the spectrum, nationalist parties such as the AfD and BSW seek to withdraw from NATO and the EU, aiming for an independent and sovereign Germany with closer ties to Eurasia.

The Social Democrats (SPD), Greens, and Liberals (FDP) remain committed to the policies dictated by the struggling Atlanticist establishment. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU-CSU), while part of the same Atlanticist framework, favors certain adjustments.

Meanwhile, the rising nationalist parties, Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), are advancing policies that align with the Eurasian bloc. The pressures exerted by Atlantic powers, the crises of the imperialist system and sanctions on Russia are among the primary reasons for Germany’s deepening economic and social turmoil. It is evident that growing numbers of people affected by this crisis are turning to nationalist parties.

At their recent party conferences, parties announced their candidates for chancellor and their government programs: Olaf Scholz (SPD), Friedrich Merz (Christian Democratic Union – CDU-CSU), Alice Weidel (AfD), Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW – Socialist-Nationalist), and Robert Habeck (Greens).

The Christian Democratic Union wants a comprehensive “policy change” proposing tax cuts for businesses and individuals, the elimination of social benefits for those in need, and stricter immigration policies. Although CDU-CSU is broadly aligned with Atlanticist policies, it has discreetly signaled a willingness to collaborate with nationalist parties, especially in eastern states where nationalists have gained significant ground. While CDU-CSU avoids emphasizing this during the campaign, such a cooperation is anticipated after the elections.

The Greens are the most fervent advocates of Atlanticist policies. The SPD, known for its ambiguous stance, has aligned itself with the Atlanticist bloc through its coalition with the Greens and Liberals. This coalition pursued hostility towards Russia and supported Ukraine. In fact, the SPD even risked breaking the coalition for unlimited aid to Ukraine.

Atlanticists want war with Russia, AfD calls for peace

Systematic campaigns are being carried out to shut down the AfD. There are legal complaints against the party. There are even claims that the elections could be annulled if AfD emerges as the leading party. Romania is being referred as a precedent case here.

At this point, it is worth mentioning AfD’s key policies: exiting the EU to become an independent, sovereign state, abandoning the euro and reinstating the Deutsche Mark, immediately ending support for Ukraine and negotiating peace, restoring relations with Russia, reactivating the Nord Stream pipelines, and opposing the cultural corruption including LGBT-related policies.

Immigration takes center stage

Immigration is the number one issue for all parties, both in government and in opposition in the elections. This has gained even more prominence following the fall of Assad. There is a widespread consensus that Syrian refugees can be repatriated.

Meanwhile, Germany, hit hard by economic stagnation and deterioration due to sanctions on Russia, is losing its appeal. Factories are shutting down one after another, unemployment and homelessness are rising, drug use is spreading and social decay is accelerating. These developments are also increasing the tendency among Turkish citizens in Germany to consider returning to their home country.

The immigration issue has been weaponized as part of a psychological war against AfD. Many high-ranking officials, including the President and the leader of the Greens, have openly called for the party to be banned. The imperialist forces of the West, intertwined with American and Israeli Zionism, label AfD as “racist”, “fascist” and “far-right”.

There are also discussions about Trump’s influence in strengthening European nationalism. Trump’s “America First” policy may have repercussions for the EU.

After World War II, the US took over where Hitler left off. Just as the US was behind the military coups of 1971 and 1980 in Türkiye, it has been the driving force behind fascist interventions worldwide. Today, US-Israel Zionism is carrying out genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere. Those who unconditionally support these actions, the SPD the FDP, and the Greens, are using attacks on AfD to cover up their imperialist policies. Labeling European nationalist parties as “fascist” or “racist” employing CIA and Pentagon’s “rhetoric” serves only to distract from the real perpetrators of fascism and genocide, US-Israeli Zionists.

AfD Co-Chairman Tino Chrupalla touched upon these issues in an extensive interview with Aydınlık newspaper. Türkiye, as a regional power in West Asia, along with the 3.5 million Turkish community in Germany, could contribute to the advancement of those seeking to free Germany from US influence.

Militarization and global ambitions

At a time when Atlanticist hegemony is collapsing, certain forces within the EU are pushing for militarization, a greater global role, and preparations for war against Russia. That is a move that run counter to the broader geopolitical tendency. Germany’s now-defunct coalition government, a loyal enforcer of US’s policies under the Biden administration, has been encouraged by NATO to take a leading role in an anti-Russia war. Germany is being drawn into a conflict that goes beyond limited skirmishes or simply supporting Ukraine, it is being pushed toward a full-scale regional war.

Germany, along with other EU nations, has strictly adhered to the US-imposed sanctions on Russia and Eurasian countries. However, these sanctions have primarily harmed Germany itself. The country has been left without gas. It losses in international trade. Economic stagnation has pushed growth to near or below zero. Even Germany’s strongest industrial sectors are collapsing: Volkswagen, a global giant, is laying off 30,000 workers. Many other major factories are shutting down branches. The reputation that once defined Germany is deteriorating across all fields. So, we are talking about a politically, socially and culturally dissolving country.

The current German government continues large-scale militarization at its own initiative, but also as demanded by NATO. To strengthen this effort, it has adopted the National Security and Defense Industry Strategy. This document states that Germany must “transition to defense as quickly as possible” and that the “rapidly increasing demand for military goods, services, and innovations” must be met in the shortest possible time. The German government has introduced a new strategy of in collaboration between arms industry and industry in general.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck from the Green Party stated in his official congratulatory letter to Trump that Europe would have “to assume greater responsibility in global security policy”. Therefore, “Europe must act as a strong player in world politics in the future”. CDU leader Friedrich Merz echoed similar views in his message to Trump that Europe must “take responsibility for its own security” and “become capable of acting independently on the world stage”.

The National Security and Defense Industry Strategy explicitly states that the German armed forces must ensure “military capabilities, equipment, and readiness for deployment and operations in any situation, scale, geostrategic region, and climate conditions”. This contradicts claims that rearmament is solely about national defense. Additionally, it confirms Germany’s intent to strengthen its military operations in the Asia-Pacific region. The fact that the German military must be “operational” everywhere reveals Berlin’s openness to participating in wars globally, including in the Asia-Pacific. This policy is supported by SPD, the Greens, FDP, and CDU-CSU.

Foreign minister targets Türkiye

During her visit to Syria, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock from the Green Party called for a federal structure that includes representation from all groups. She also stated Germany’s opposition to Türkiye operations against the PKK-YPG terrorist organization and “hands-off” approach regarding Israel’s actions. Türkiye’s interventions against terrorist organizations were framed as potential war crimes.

What do Western representatives, who have recently visited Syria and Türkiye, mean when they speak of “no external intervention”? Türkiye’s homeland defense operations against terrorist organizations in northern Syria were labeled as aggression and occupation, while Israel advances in Syria without any obstacles, US troop numbers increase, and Western-backed terrorist groups establish settlements. None of this is considered “external intervention” according to Baerbock and Western leaders.

Note another indication here. On the way to the elections the Munich Security Conference took place from February 14-16. For this year’s conference, Germany’s prime ministerial candidates were invited, including Olaf Scholz (SPD), Friedrich Merz (CDU-CSU), Christian Lindner (FDP), Robert Habeck (Greens), and even a representative from the Left Party. However, the rapidly rising nationalist parties, AfD and BSW, were not invited.

Weidel: We can’t be slave to the US

Germany’s national broadcaster ARD hosted a debate featuring representatives from parties running in the upcoming elections. Among them was AfD’s Alice Weidel. The program sparked widespread discussion in the public sphere regarding nationalists’ policies.

During the debate, moderator Caren Miosga posed a direct question to Weidel: “So, what kind of Germany do you envision?” Weidel said: “A victorious German people cannot be a slave to the US. We must stop being a vassal state”. She then emphasized the need to restore German-Russian relations by lifting sanctions. She also called for the restoration of the Nord Stream pipeline and for Ukraine to accept peace terms.

Is migration issue exclusively about nationalist policy?

The “migration crisis”, largely a product of Western policies, has become a central issue for all political parties in Europe. Even among nationalist groups there are debates and divisions about it. An important example of such divisions was the disbandment of the Alternative Youth Union, a faction known for its extreme anti-immigrant rhetoric, which severed ties with AfD.

Despite that, there is an ongoing propaganda to discredit nationalists’ policies on migration. On February 5th, German state broadcaster ARD aired a segment on fake accounts targeting nationalists on X. These fake accounts were spreading content aimed at discrediting nationalist groups.

Nationalist alliance?

The German public is increasingly adopting a stance against policies that perpetuate US hegemony.

According to Die Welt on February 4th, for the first time since 2023, the CDU-CSU has fallen below 30% in the polls (with RTL-NEV’s barometer indicating 28%). In contrast, the AfD is at 22%. Weidel said that, when combined with BSW, their total vote share stands at around 30%. This suggests that the two nationalist parties are now in a position to form a coalition surpassing CDU-CSU.

The nationalist movement, which is centered on the ideology and program of rising national states opposed to US hegemony and imperialist interventions, is the program of many rising independentist parties in Europe. The AfD, BSW, Le Pen, Meloni and many other nationalist parties, large and small, are examples of this rise.