Is the Far Right Germany’s Future?
There is not much glamour in German politics these days. Germany’s ruling coalition is losing favor. On top of that, its main opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (cdu), has been quiet and withdrawn from the political debate. The big winner? The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). The AfD is becoming more extreme but also more accepted. This is somewhat understandable if you consider the current failure of other parties. But what does it mean for Germany’s future?
Germany is currently ruled by a coalition of three parties: the Social Democratic Party (spd), the Greens and the Free Democratic Party. But recent polls show that even this conglomerate fails to have a majority in parliament.
An insa-Bild survey published May 20 shows that the opposition, the cdu and Christian Social Union, is leading with 28 percent, followed by the spd with 21 percent, the Greens with 14 percent, the Free Democrats with 8 percent, and the far-left Die Linke with 5 percent. But what is remarkable is the far-right AfD has 17 percent. A YouGov poll from May 12 put the AfD ahead of the spd as the second-strongest party.
There is a strong appetite for change in Germany. And with increasing turmoil, that appetite is growing. Opposition against the AfD is declining. In November 2020, 75 percent of Germans said they would never vote for the AfD. That number dropped to 60 percent in December and 54 percent today. While the party currently polls from 15 to 17 percent, it has potential, according to insa, of another 8.4 percent and could easily reach 25 percent.
Outrage against the AfD has also subsided. Previously, leaders of the AfD have caused an uproar for seeking to end German feelings of guilt regarding World War ii and the Holocaust. But current party leader Tino Chrupalla recently said, “Historical guilt should no longer determine the way we act”—and most didn’t notice.
To understand the AfD’s rise, you have to understand the growing dissatisfaction with the current ruling class. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised to make Germany great again. But since his Zeitwende speech in February 2022, the country appears weaker, in growing economic turmoil, still reliant on United States aid, and still in cahoots with Russia. The Greens continue to push a destructive “climate-friendly” policy that is detrimental to German industry and households.
With so much turmoil, the cdu is not offering answers. Alternative für Deutschland is.
It advocates for a break from the U.S. over Ukraine. It says the war could be solved by allying with Russia, which would also solve Germany’s economic trouble. Overall, the AfD believes that pride in one’s country will lead to greatness. That would mean a stronger stance against immigration and a greater support for German military independence. People find such beliefs appealing.
The AfD is preparing the way for the fulfillment of an astonishing Bible prophecy, even if the party itself were to vanish in the future. The Bible prophesies of a mood change in Germany, and the AfD is contributing to just that.
In Isaiah 10, God warns that He will raise up the Assyrians. The Bible is a coded book. But the book of Isaiah has a clear end-time focus. Its prophecies need to be understood. Our article “The Remarkable Identity of the German People” proves that modern-day Germany is present in Bible prophecy. God is orchestrating Germany’s rise as a dominant power on the world scene. The German nation will overcome timidity, revive pride in its power, and become a military superpower.
To understand these prophecies, read Germany and the Holy Roman Empire.