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by UnHerd Staff
Saturday, 26
August 2023
Video
08:00

Wolfgang Münchau: the end of the German era

AfD voters are rebelling against a failing economy
by UnHerd Staff

For decades, Germany was a beacon of centrist political stability. During her 16-year leadership, Angela Merkel led a succession of grand coalitions which neutralised the political extremes, and piloted her country through an era of steady economic growth.

Today, that political settlement has dissolved. Germany’s reliance on Russian gas has devastated its industrial economy, while the surface tranquillity of the Merkel era is a distant memory. Alternative für Deutschland, a far-Right populist party, has been the beneficiary of this chaos, surging in the polls to become the second-most popular party in Germany. To understand this reversal of fortunes and what it means for Europe and the world, Freddie Sayers spoke to Wolfgang Münchau, former co-editor of FT Deutschland, and founder and co-director of Eurointelligence.

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Barry Murphy
Barry Murphy
2 months ago

I would not consider the AfD “far-right”- The bulk of the party is right-wing conservative, but in fact liberal on certain issues (e.g. Covid). As for being “populist”, why is speaking up for the average citizen a bad thing?

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Dermot O'Sullivan
Dermot O'Sullivan
2 months ago

Good insights in there and food for thought. Watch this space!

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Ana Cronin
Ana Cronin
2 months ago

I love it when someone makes me examine /see a topic(s) from a different angle /point of view Thank you Mr Munchau for this very interesting discussion.

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