Why in news?
- The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Chancellor Angela Merkel has polled the most votes in German national elections.
- However, the biggest event was the entry of the rightist AfD into the politics mainstream.
What are the highlights of this election?
- While the CDU has emerged as the single largest party its vote share reduced considerably.
- As the most popular leader of the single largest party, Ms. Merkel would most likely get a 4th straight term.
- The rightist ‘Alternative for Germany-AfD’ polled about 13% votes, increasing its vote share by 8%.
- It is touted to become the first rightist party to enter Bundestag (Germany Parliament) since 2nd world war.
- AfD has also becomes the third largest party in the German parliament next only to CDU & SPD - (Social Democrats).
- As CDU & SDP have been allies for the past two elections, AfD is expected to dominate the opposition space.
What is the agenda of AfD?
- It was founded in 2012 as a reaction to the Eurozone policies.
- It has a strong presence among Euro sceptics and neo-Nazis.
- Islamophobia and anti-immigration stance is the ideological nucleus around which its current politics is centred.
- The rise of the AfD had previously forced Ms.Merkel to soften her position on open borders.
- AfD’s attitude towards Indian immigrants has largely been positive as they aren’t perceived as a threat to the German Social Fabric.
Source: Indian Express
