In the 2021 Bundestag elections, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured 10% of the vote. However, the latest polls ahead of the February 2025 elections indicate that the right-wing populist party has nearly doubled its support, positioning itself as Germany’s second-largest political force.
Public sentiment in Germany appears to be aligning more closely with AfD’s positions:
- 68% of Germans now support stricter migration policies.
- A similar 68% favor nuclear energy, while nearly half the population supports building new power plants.
“AfD’s growing popularity stems from our long-standing positions on key issues—positions that may not have been popular initially but were ultimately proven correct. A prime example is our stance on migration. We consistently warned against open-border policies and mass, uncontrolled migration. Today, more and more people—some of whom previously criticized us—now acknowledge that we were right,” said Tomasz Froelich, AfD Member of the European Parliament, in an interview with Newseria.
Migration as a Key Issue in the 2025 Bundestag Elections
According to the January ARD DeutschlandTrend poll, migration has emerged as a top concern ahead of Germany’s upcoming elections. The issue gained renewed urgency following:
- A December attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, where a Saudi national killed six people and injured nearly 300.
- A January stabbing in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, where an Afghan asylum seeker attacked multiple children.
Key poll findings:
- 37% of Germans now rank immigration as one of Germany’s two most pressing political issues.
- 68% favor stricter migration policies and reducing the number of asylum seekers.
- 57% support deporting undocumented migrants, even those seeking asylum.
- Support for border controls is high, with a majority favoring permanent checks at all neighboring borders.
Even outside of AfD’s base, tougher migration policies are gaining traction:
- 87% of AfD supporters endorse stricter policies.
- 71% of CDU/CSU voters agree.
- Even within the center-left SPD, more than half now support tougher migration rules.
“The European Union must put a stop to mass migration and properly secure its borders. If the EU fails to do so, national governments must take matters into their own hands. A ‘re-migration’ plan should be implemented, ensuring that illegal migrants in countries like Germany and Poland are deported back to their home countries—provided those countries are safe. If not, resettlement zones should be established outside the EU where migrants can be relocated,” said Froelich.
In late January, with AfD’s backing, the German Parliament passed a migration reform plan drafted by the center-right CDU. The plan aimed to:
- Limit family reunifications for migrants holding temporary protection status.
- Expand federal police authority over immigration enforcement.
While the proposal ultimately failed in the Bundestag, it reflects a shifting political landscape on migration in Germany.
Social Welfare and Economic Concerns Fuel AfD’s Support
Froelich argues that Germany is facing a social welfare crisis due to uncontrolled immigration.
“In 2010, fewer than 20% of welfare recipients were non-German citizens. Today, over half of all welfare beneficiaries lack German passports. Our social system is collapsing under this strain,” he said.
Energy Crisis and Public Opinion Shift Toward Nuclear Power
AfD’s rising popularity also stems from its long-standing support for energy diversification.
“We have always advocated for a diverse energy mix. Germany now has the highest energy prices in Europe, which is damaging our economy and making us dependent on Russian gas. Had Germany followed AfD’s energy strategy—diversifying energy sources—this crisis could have been avoided,” Froelich stated.
According to Eurostat, in the first half of 2024:
- Germany’s households paid €39.5 per 100 kWh for electricity.
- By contrast, Polish consumers paid only €21.1 per 100 kWh.
Germany’s high electricity costs are largely due to:
- Abandoning Russian energy imports.
- Phasing out nuclear power—a decision made before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Germany originally planned to replace nuclear energy with:
- Coal, wind, solar, and Russian natural gas.
- Over time, coal was to be phased out in favor of renewable energy and gas.
However, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany shut down its last nuclear plants on April 15, 2023. This move has drastically increased the country’s reliance on imported electricity.
- Germany’s energy imports have tripled since 2023.
- Half of its imported electricity now comes from France, Switzerland, and Belgium—all of which rely heavily on nuclear power.
Growing Public Support for Nuclear Energy
According to the Radiant Energy Group Public Attitudes toward Clean Energy (PACE) report:
- 67% of Germans support using nuclear energy for electricity generation.
- 42% favor building new nuclear power plants.
- Only 25% support a full nuclear phase-out.
“Initially, most Germans opposed nuclear energy. Now, that’s changing. AfD took an unpopular stance at the time, but today, more and more people share our view. This trend extends to many policy areas where our positions were once controversial but are now gaining public support,” said Froelich.
Conclusion
The AfD’s rise in popularity reflects growing dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of migration and energy policies. The party’s tough stance on immigration, criticism of Germany’s energy transition, and focus on economic concerns have resonated with a broader electorate.
With public opinion shifting in AfD’s favor, the 2025 Bundestag elections could mark a significant political realignment in Germany.
Source: ManagerPlus.pl
