A Bundestag election in Germany has sparked a lot of discussion in Switzerland, particularly among Swiss parliamentarians. While some right-wing Swiss parliamentarians are pleased with the election results, left-wing representatives are more critical.
The CDU/CSU won the election with a significant increase in votes, while the SPD and the Greens suffered significant losses. The AfD, in particular, has more than doubled its voter share and is now the second-strongest force in the Bundestag.
“This is a dramatic result” says Fabian Molina, a National Council member of the SP. He describes the outcome as a “black day” for Germany and Europe. Molina is concerned about the AfD’s rise, which he considers a significant threat to democracy. He also regrets the SPD’s historic worst election result and is worried about the CDU’s cooperation with the AfD on migration policy issues.
Molina, known for his pro-Selenskyi stance, emphasizes that the AfD is following a pro-Russian course and that the greatest danger to Germany is currently Russia, not a few asylum seekers who might commit an attack.
Molina has been involved in several controversies, including a February 2022 unauthorized counter-demonstration in Zurich that led to clashes, for which he was fined 300 francs. He warns that the AfD’s inclusion in political decision-making processes in Germany could be dangerous, as the extremist forces in the past have caused significant harm.
Pascal Schmid, a National Council member and asylum chief of the SVP, considers the result a logical consequence of the migration policy of the past years. He sees the strengthening of the CDU/CSU and the AfD as a clear expression of the will of the voters to stop uncontrolled asylum migration and strengthen national security.
Schmid, however, criticizes the attitude of excluding the AfD from democratic processes. He emphasizes that in a democracy, there should be no “firewalls” to prevent cooperation with certain parties.
Thierry Burkart, the FDP party president, recognizes the election as a clear trend towards a bourgeois government. He regrets the FDP’s failure to distance itself from the government’s policies for too long. Burkart sees a stronger economic orientation as crucial for repositioning Germany and Europe on the global stage. He evaluates the AfD’s success as a sign of the voters’ discontent with the previous migration policy.
Philipp Matthias Bregy, the Fraktionspräsident of the Mitte, is pleased with the CDU/CSU’s success, describing it as a clear signal for more stability in German politics. He warns, however, that the extreme ideologies of the AfD and the Left could hinder a solution-oriented politics. He emphasizes the importance of a strong center that can find solutions that are fair to the different political poles.
Balthasar Glättli, a National Council member of the Greens, sees the election result as a confirmation of the trends of the past weeks. The AfD has largely confirmed its position, which is remarkable in an election campaign marked by disinformation. The CDU, too, has not achieved a clear election success with its return to the political right and must now consider how to shape its future political orientation.
Overall, the election result shows that the political landscape in Germany is changing. While the CDU/CSU won, it is unclear how stable the future government will be and whether a coalition with the AfD is actually possible. The developments in Germany are of interest to Switzerland, as the country is an important neighbor and political partner closely tied to Germany.