As of: February 24, 2024, 6:07 a.m
By: Stefan Weinzierl
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In Bavaria, 16 percent of 18 to 24 year olds voted AfD in the state elections.
(Symbolic image) © Sebastian Gollnow
More and more young people are voting for the AfD.
This is how the young people of the political center want to counteract this.
District - The state elections in Bavaria and Hesse have shown that the number of young voters who have voted for the right-wing populist AfD has increased significantly.
In Bavaria, 16 percent of 18 to 24 year olds voted for the AfD, and in Hesse even 18 percent voted.
Reason enough to ask young parties from the political center in the district how they react to this development - also in view of the upcoming European elections on June 9th.
The young politicians agree on one thing: the development endangers democracy.
“She is much more vulnerable than many people think possible,” says the district chairman of the Young Liberals, Vincent Roszik from Neubiberg.
Like Jan Kämmerer from Unterschleißheim, district leader of the Junge Union (JU), he refers to the political developments in Poland in recent years.
There, “the right-wing extremists hijacked the public media and shaped the judiciary in their favor,” recalls Kämmerer.
Michael Aumer, chairman of the Young Free Voters in the district, is worried about further radicalization of society.
“Social peace in Germany would be increasingly endangered,” he warns.
The dangers of the shift to the right are already being felt, emphasizes Felicia Kocher, board member of the district executive committee of the Green Party.
“The extent of hatred and agitation against our party has taken on qualities that have never been seen before,” says the Garching native.
Criticism of the traffic lights
The rise of right-wing populist parties like the AfD also has economic consequences, warns Juso district chairman Kevin Mayer from Neuried: “No trade, out of the euro – these are concepts that would ruin us.”
But what are the reasons why more and more young people are voting for AfD?
Kämmerer passes the buck to the traffic light coalition: The AfD could “take advantage of the disastrous performance of the traffic light parties” on social networks, i.e. where many young people get their news.
Aumer sees it similarly: “Many have lost trust in politics due to the behavior of the current federal government.”
The young representatives of the traffic light parties are also self-critical.
“The open traffic light dispute is a major source of unrest,” says Juso boss Meyer frankly.
Even if the coalition's results are much better than its reputation.
Green district board member Leon Matella from Ottobrunn also sees it this way.
“The substantive balance sheet of our federal government absolutely does not have to be hidden.” The successes are not received by the public, but the constant coalition dispute is.
Crises as a reason
But the AfD is also benefiting from the many successive crises of the past few years, says Roszik.
Aumer also sees it that way and lists: “Corona pandemic, energy crisis or the war in Ukraine.” Many young people are simply afraid of the future.
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But Roszik also sees an opportunity here to undermine the right-wing populists.
The current crises must be consistently addressed through necessary reforms.
This is how you can regain the trust of the population: “Denmark is a good example of this.
The right-wing populists were quickly defeated there.”
Aumer warns that young people's problems and concerns should be taken seriously and that they should be actively involved in decisions.
His Young Free Voters successfully campaigned for the preservation of the maternity ward in the Neuperlach Clinic: “The issue has moved many young people in the district.”
“Finally serious youth participation”
In addition to “finally serious youth participation” in politics, Matella calls for “extensive democratic education for young people at all levels”.
In Kämmerer’s view, secondary schools must also contribute to this.
You should be brave and use the European elections to invite representatives of youth organizations or parties to discussion groups: “Then the young voters, who this time are also allowed to vote under the age of 18, can see the individual positions in direct comparison.” After all, the JU is fielding two candidates represented on the CSU list for the European elections: “You are fighting for a modern European Union.”
The Jusos want to score points with young voters with their own offers.
Meyer: “We have a really good European election program, we are calling for a free Interrail ticket and the protection of water as a public good.”
Further news from the Munich district can be found here.