Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has delivered a sharp assessment of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, describing it as “dehumanizing”. In an interview with ZDF Heute-Journal, she attributed the party’s electoral success, particularly in eastern Germany, to a sense of lost social mobility in rural areas and increasing social isolation.
Merkel acknowledged that these underlying societal anxieties contribute to the party’s appeal, emphasizing that such feelings do not justify supporting a party holding such views. She asserted that any political entity that divides the population into “elites” and actively defines such divisions fundamentally contradicts the principles enshrined in Germany’s Basic Law.
Reflecting on the upcoming “Unity Festival” in Saarbrücken, commemorating German reunification, Merkel voiced reservations about the selection of speakers. While praising French President Emmanuel Macron, she suggested that including a speaker from Eastern Europe or directly from eastern Germany would have been a more appropriate representation, recognizing the significant contributions made by Eastern European nations to the process of German reunification.