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- To Munich with its samovar: the U.S. decided to help the far-right on the eve of the Bundestag elections
To Munich with its samovar: the U.S. decided to help the far-right on the eve of the Bundestag elections
At the Munich Conference on Security in Europe, not only did U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance's speech make a lot of noise, but also his meeting with the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, previously considered a pariah. How this may change the political situation on the eve of early elections to the Bundestag, which will be held this week, - in the material of "Izvestia".
In a relaxed atmosphere
"U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance met with the leader of the far-right German party "Alternative for Germany", thus breaking a taboo in German politics, as the Trump administration continues to "groom and promote far-right populist parties across Europe" - with such an article came out the British newspaper The Guardian.
At the Munich Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the top U.S. politician refused to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "We don't need to see him, he won't be chancellor for long," Vance cut him off.
Instead, he spoke with AdG head Alice Weidel. They discussed the Ukrainian conflict, German domestic politics and the so-called firewall against the far right that prevents them from joining governing coalitions in German politics.
AdG head Alice Weidel during a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest. February 12, 2025
According to Weidel's spokesman Daniel Tapp, the meeting between the U.S. vice president and the AdG co-chair took place at a hotel shortly after the American's speech and took place in a "very relaxed and friendly" atmosphere.
The AdG leader called Vance's speech at the Munich conference brilliant. While mainstream party leaders sharply criticized him. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier rebuked the American politician for interfering in Germany's internal affairs, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the Alternative for Germany deliberately reduces the danger of the Nazi past, and the candidate from the CDU/CSU bloc, Friedrich Merz, to whom all forecasts predict a place in the chancellor's office, advised Vance to "respect German democracy and German elections."
In turn, the leader of the Greens, Robert Habeck, recommended that the American politician "deal with the problems of his own country."
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance speaks at the Munich Conference on Security in Europe. February 14, 2025.
Most of all, German politicians were outraged by the US Vice President's hint about the lack of democracy in Germany, when a firewall is built against one party, which is supported by at least a fifth of voters.
A YouGov opinion poll showed that the conservatives from the CDU/CSU bloc are still in the lead with 30% of the vote, with the Alternative in second place, supported by 23% of voters, and the Social Democrats from Olaf Scholz's ruling party with only 15%.
The mainstream parties fear that the AdG may get a qualified minority of 25%, in which case the far-right will be able to block the adoption of any undesirable law. And the ruling parties will have no choice but to cooperate with them.
With the light hand of Musk
These talks were not the first contact between the party and representatives of the American administration. Previously, billionaire Ilon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency in the Donald Trump administration, has repeatedly supported the AdG.
He called this political force a supporter of political realism and the current chancellor Olaf Scholz an idiot.
In a video message at an AdG campaign event in late January, Musk said, "The upcoming German elections are incredibly important. They could decide the fate of all of Europe, and possibly the entire world. <...> So it's important to talk to your friends and family and convince them to consider voting for the AdG. <...> I think people in Germany want something different. And if you want something different, you have to vote for another party."
In a later speech, he called Alternative for Germany the country's only hope.
What the experts think
Natalya Eremina, a doctor of political sciences and professor at St. Petersburg State University, said in a conversation with Izvestia that the meeting between U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Alternative for Germany leader Alice Weidel will partly influence a part of the electorate.
- The AdG electorate is very complex. Therefore, any factor can reflect both positively and negatively. In this case, there was a demonstration of support for the course by an influential player. Apparently, it will play more of a plus for the young audience," the expert believes.
In her opinion, it is possible to see interference in internal affairs at the same time with support.
German Chancellor and head of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) Olaf Scholz, German Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck, conservative candidate for chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader Friedrich Merz and Alternative for Germany (AdG) party co-chair Alice Weidel during a debate in Berlin, Germany.
- It all depends on how the party itself will play and interpret it. The trend for strengthening the positions of such political forces is undeniable and sustainable. And this may mean a gradual improvement of their representation at different levels," summarized the specialist.
Artem Sokolov, a senior researcher at the Institute of International Relations of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Russian Foreign Ministry, believes that at the moment, after the Munich Security Conference, the ratings of the Alternative for Germany have not undergone significant changes and remain quite high.
- It is still the second most popular party in the country, and its ratings exceed 20%, which is twice as much as before the 2021 elections. And, of course, such open support from the US, representatives of Donald Trump's team, changes the AdG's position within the German political system," the Germanist noted.
He added that the so-called firewall, which Alternative for Germany fails to break through from within, despite its high ratings, victory in the elections in the federal state of Thuringia and the high influence of this party at the local level, has come under pressure from outside.
- And not just under pressure from those political forces, which for the German leadership are also hands-off, but also from the main transatlantic partner. This, of course, forms new circumstances, which German politicians are trying to ignore or react aggressively to," the expert believes.
According to him, at the recent debates between the candidates for the post of Chancellor, Friedrich Merz and Olaf Scholz declared the inadmissibility of such attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of the country, denied the very situation of boycott and deficit of democracy and freedom of speech in Germany.
- That is, so far there is a stage of denial of the new realities, and it will be curious how events will develop further, especially after the early parliamentary elections on February 23, - commented the analyst.
Political analyst believes that even with the signals that are now coming from Washington, it is unlikely that the CDU will agree to form a governing coalition with the "Alternative for Germany".
- Perhaps, in the next election cycle we will see tendencies to strengthen this party in German politics," the expert said.
He reminded that such things have already happened with the Greens in the 80s and 90s, with the Party of Democratic Socialism, which has now become the Left Party.
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