Chancellor Olaf Scholz is taking the AfD's flight of fancy calmly. © Jonas Walzberg/dpa
Scholz seems to take the high AfD poll numbers calmly. Nevertheless, he wants to find a solution to counteract the strengthening of the party.
Berlin – The AfD's soaring popularity is worrying many. According to current polls, the party is ahead of the Greens, whose popularity seems to be declining. While the Greens warn of the consequences of the AfD high, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far reacted calmly and is optimistic that he will be able to counteract the AfD through good governance.
Despite high poll numbers for AfD: Scholz remains calm
The German government must "do a good job and solve the problems of this country," said deputy government spokesman Wolfgang Büchner on Monday (5 June) in Berlin. The chancellor was "optimistic" "that we will not have to worry much about this issue," he added, referring to the AfD's current high in the polls.
Büchner pointed out that political life in recent years has been marked by two major crises - the Corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine. "The best thing we can do, and what this federal government is doing, is to work through everything and come up with good solutions," Büchner continued. "Then it will be less with these poll results for populists." The issue of migration also plays a role: The Federal Government is "working intensively to ensure that we achieve better governance in the interest of the country," said Büchner.
CDU wants to convince AfD voters with "offer"
The right-wing populist AfD was recently at 18 to 19 percent in some polls, on a par with the SPD. The AfD has particularly good ratings in the east of the country. The constant quarrels in the traffic light as well as the latest draft laws of the coalition are said to be the trigger for the high number of votes of the AfD. CDU state leader Jan Redmann also believes that the AfD benefits from the uncertainty of the people. "The AfD is counting on Germany failing to meet the challenges of the present in order to benefit politically," Redmann told the German Press Agency. At the same time, Redmann ruled out a fundamental cooperation with the AfD. "It can therefore not be a partner of the CDU – at any level."
The best recipe against the disappointment and uncertainty of the people is a convincing offer to tackle the current problems, said the CDU land chief. Pragmatism must take precedence over ideology. "Especially in East Germany, where people have experienced the failure of a planned economy themselves, the rejection of the traffic light plans for the energy transition is particularly great."
Scholz not worried about large-scale manoeuvres in the Baltic Sea – clear signal to Putin
Federal Chancellor Scholz is also relaxed about the situation between NATO and Russia in the Baltic Sea, which will escalate through large-scale manoeuvres taking place in parallel. "I don't have that fear," Scholz said on Monday during a visit to the frigate "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" off the German Baltic Sea coast near Rostock. "It is handled very responsibly on the part of our forces." However, Scholz also said to Russia: "Of course, it is also a signal that we are sending here with the manoeuvre, the exercise - namely that we have the strength to organise alliance and national defence. And that's what is understood."
Scholz arrived on Monday on the frigate "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" just under 20 kilometers off the Baltic Sea coast to get an idea of the capabilities of the German Navy and its allies. For the first time, he had the frigate comprehensively demonstrate the capabilities of the Navy. He was "very impressed with the performance, with the hard work we have seen here," he said afterwards. He will do everything he can to ensure that the navy is well equipped. (bohy/dpa)