The final right is looking for an election breakthrough when Germany breaks down

A political tidal wave collapses in Germany. In this, he firmly believes the right nationalist alternative for Germany (AFD).

It is referred to as “radical”, “racist” and “anti -democratic” by opponents. Germany’s internal intelligence says the party is “anti -constitutional”.

But if the polls are right, AFD will become the second largest political force in Germany after the election this Sunday.

This would be a huge change in tectonic plates, not only at home but throughout Europe.

Why is AFD such a big deal, can you ask? Populist laws are growing in support in much of Europe.

AFD also points to Donald Trump. They share his “anti -rogue”, firm migration, a message for fossil fuels. They also want to stop sending a weapon to Ukraine and de -escalate tensions with Russia.

The Trump administration supports them immediately – publicly, for the outrage of many Germans.

The thing is, Germany is not just another country.

This is the largest economy in Europe, one of its most influential nations. He still carries the weight of his Nazi past. Along with the United Kingdom and France, it is one of the big three that helped to form and secure the liberal structures of Europe and defense after World War II and the Cold War.

He has never been so successful in post -war Germany until it is at the top of being identified as a threat to the Federal Republic and its liberal constitution.

The influential leader of the opposition opposition of France, Marin Le Pen, whose party is also considered far right, has distanced itself from AFD on the European stage, has apparently judged his position and ethno -nationalist reputation too radical.

The long assumption among the main flow at home and abroad was that the dark past of Germany immunized it against any serious flirting with the far right.

But there is a lot for these elections that causes observers to shift their opinion on Germany. And I will return to AFD, which vigorously denies his “extremist” label.

The Germans have a kick in the intestine – in terms of their country’s international reputation.

For years, they used to admire – and envied – as the economic power of Europe.

An advantage through technologyApproximately translating as “progress through technology” was an advertising slogan for Audi cars in the 1980s. For decades, it has encapsulated Germany’s reputation in international imagination.

The country is regarded as modern, dynamic and technologically advanced. And the automotive industry was one of the main arteries in which they were wealth in the economic heart of Germany.

But fundamental shortcomings are already on display in the German economic model.

It is regarded as broken (Broken)-Reading too strongly on energy intensive, old-fashioned industries such as fuel cars and chemical industry.

Critics question the lack of German forecast or the ability to move over time. Where was the serious investment in research and development? In Big Tech? In AI?

To make things worse, during the 16s of Angela Merkel as Chancellor – she retired in 2021 – Germany became more and more dependent on:

• Exports to China
• cheap gas from Russia
• US defense umbrella.

All this left Germany very exposed.

Donald Trump now says that Europe can no longer rely on US support and guarantees.

China has made rapid progress in the automotive industry and dominates the technology of electric cars. So far, a less need for German imports.

And the full -scale invasion of Russia in Ukraine left Germany to face alternative energy sources. Buying liquid gas from the United States and others is expensive, leading to financial tensions of many energy German enterprises.

The result: The German economy is slow and sticky. As the largest member of the euro area currency, it has an impact beyond its borders. European allies are disappointed.

The German military is also a source of annoyance (this puts it politely) among European neighbors. Berlin is a key force in the Alliance for Defense, NATO. Donald Trump’s return to the White House means that Europeans need to provide more of their own capabilities.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised intensely – a turning point – for the exhausted military in his country after the full invasion of Russia in Ukraine.

Yet the military in Germany remain in a disabled state – less ready for battle, we are told than three years ago.

Partly because of his donations to Ukraine.

After the United States, Germany is the largest military aid donor for Ukraine, and most political parties in Germany support the continuation of KYIV’s support.

AFD takes a completely different position. “Peace” is one of the most common signs you see at their rallies.

They want rapprochement with Russia, immediately stop sending weapons to Ukraine and using resources instead of building Germans’ armed forces to protect at home.

More than 4,000 bridges in Germany are broken or in doubt. I could hardly believe my ears when I first heard it. But this is the reported figure in a country whose infrastructure has been quietly decaying for years due to chronically insufficient investment – public and private.

The fiber accuracy in Germany is terrifying – a worse than in the UK, which will amaze tired British travelers.

Digitization is also deplorable. Acceptance of mobile phones is stains outside cities and people are still known to use faxes!

But even the last German governments want to invest more, they have faced legal restrictions on costs.

The debt brake was recorded in the German Constitution after the 2008/9 financial crisis, with a restriction on new debt of no more than 0.35% of GDP, except during a national emergency situation.

The Germans no longer trust their politicians.

They had seen government spending a spiral at home and abroad. The euro currency on which Germany depends almost collapsed.

But what looked to the voters, an anchor of financial stability then, now looks like a lot, a block of economic growth.

The lines for the reform of the debt brake were the last straw leading to the collapse of the German outbound coalition and the SNAP election this Sunday.

But the new German government is preserved: breach of the debt brake will not be a movable feat. You need a two -thirds majority in parliament to change the German Constitution.

Migration is a huge problem in Germany. And a big voice winner for AFD.

This is far from the only country that is worried about the levels of migration in Europe, but Germany itself takes over a million asylum seekers, mainly from Syria and Afghanistan, during the European Migrant Crisis in 2015/16.

The country has also opened its doors to 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees.

Many Germans were proud of what they called their “welcome culture”.

But a series of asylum seekers from the Middle East and Afghanistan again nourishes the debate on how the boundaries of Open Germany should be.

There was a piercing, an attack on a machete, a car that crashed in civilian Christmas market, and again at a recent demonstration of a union in Munich, where another young child was killed.

AFD insists that this is not racist or antimigration and that someone is welcome in Germany if they arrive on legal means, get a job, contribute to society and observe local norms and culture.

The party says that he will immediately deport all the immigrants who commit a crime, and anyone who arrives here illegally.

This position was applauded by numerous AFD supporters, with whom I spoke at the rallies at the beginning of the Sunday election – including young women who told me they no longer feel safe on the streets.

It is also worth noting that in May, a German court found that “at least a significant part of AFD” believes that everyone with a migrant heritage is not “properly German” – even if he possesses German citizenship. He concluded that AFD aims to “provide German citizens of migration origin only legally impaired status.” This contradicts the German Constitution.

They worry that they can lose AFD voters on the issue of migration and boundaries, the center of Germany on the left and in the center of the right have moved to the right in their rhetoric. This is a victory for AFD, regardless of the outcome of the election.

Even if it becomes the second largest force in parliament, as it was intended, it is very, very unlikely to turn it into the next German government.

The political system after World War II in Germany was designed so that no party could dominate parliament, as the Nazis did after they were first voted in 1933.

Coalition construction is the name of the game. And there is a so-called firewall from the end of World War II-a place between a party consensus to protect the final outside the government immediately.

AFD insists that it is conservative and libertarian, not a radical, right force.

He points to his growing base for support, in the west as well as in East Germany and among the younger voters. He accuses opponents of trying to close him, closed him and protect him from power. This, it writes, is anti -democratic.

Elon Musk grabbed titles across Europe when he announced in December that only AFD could save Germany.

The majority here still insists that their country should be rescued by AFD.