Despite gains made by the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), the breaking up of the ‘grand coalition’ could mark a positive step for Germany, according to voters who responded to our online callout.

Here voters in Germany tell us why they think the AfD made gains, and what hopes they have for the future of the country’s politics.



‘It has been unhealthy for the democracy to have a grand coalition for so many years’ – Hermine, 27, Bavaria

I voted for the liberal FDP and I am glad they will be back in parliament. The 13% for the AfD are a shame on our nation.

It has been unhealthy for the democracy to have a grand coalition for so many years. There hasn’t been a real opposition. But I’m also at a loss about the formation of the new government. Merkel should not have stood for another election.

Some people don’t understand how a wealthy country like Germany has money for bankrupt Greece and refugees, but no money for schools or roads in Germany. In addition, many people in the former east still feel neglected by the traditional parties of the west. There is a huge gap between the former two Germanys. It seems dissatisfied east Germans have found a voice that carries their protest into parliament.

‘A lot of people feel left behind’ – Sarah, 37, teacher, Bonn

My second vote was a tactical one. I gave it to the Linke. I knew that we’ll need a very strong voice against the AfD. I am pleased though, that the SPD decided to go into opposition to redefine themselves.

A lot of people feel left behind. They are looking for scapegoats. It is the easy way to deal with problems. The AFD makes use of this feeling. With the grand coalition, there was no real debating culture left. The CDU went too much into the middle, leaving the right out. Just like the SPD under Schröder left the left-wing out.

The impact of the newly arrived is big. Some people are scared. Some that have been living in Germany for a long time feel disadvantaged. We can live together and be united in our diversity. I see this in school every day. If we treat each other with respect, then we do not need to fear. It is a long and strenuous way. But it is also very rewarding and fun to walk down that lane.

At dinner I really had to get hold of myself to not cry in front of my children. I physically felt sick. A Nazi party being the third biggest party in Germany! I am still devastated.

‘We will now have serious discussions’ –Reinhard, 71, IT manager, Hamburg

Yes, I voted for the AfD. The last three elections I voted for the SPD. The coalition of CDU-SPD lost the feeling of what the so-called working class is really about.

Paying billions to save European banks (and German banks indeed, too). Nearly 2.5 million refugees in two years and about 50 to 60 percent are not recognised. A lot of voters - as I - are very disappointed that in a rich country like Germany the number of persons living below poverty line is increasing year by year. If we do not solve this problem it will affect not only Germany, but our neighbours too.

It is really ok that the AfD has 13% of all votes. In the new parliament we will now have serious discussions we haven’t had in years, about problems that were held under the cover of all the other parties.

‘A taboo on sensibly discussing immigration’ – Franz, 62, retired, Hamburg

The very large coalition of CDU and SPD including the two opposition parties the Greens and the left, together with almost all of the mainstream media, effectively placed a taboo on raising concerns about the government’s refugee policy, displaying moral arrogance in the process.

I voted for the FDP. If a coalition of CDU, FDP and the Greens comes into place, I expect the resulting policies to be quite acceptable for me. I hope the Greens will reduce the influence of the car industry on German politics and air quality.

I am somewhat concerned about the success of the AfD, although at some stage I myself was considering to vote for them, for want of any other alternative. I think it will be healthy for the SPD to not continue the coalition with the CDU, and I hope as opposition leader the SPD will contribute to marginalise the AfD.

The SPD has been worn out in several successive coalitions with Angela Merkel’s CDU, offering nothing different than a bit more or a bit less of the same, depending on the issue.

‘It’s mostly Merkel’s and her party’s fault’ – Daniel, 33, social work student

The chancellor has long since rejected public discussion. When the government doesn’t listen to the needs and concerns, others who can grow concerns into outright fears. That’s were the AfD comes in.

Another reason might be, that the CDU deserted genuine conservative topics and attitudes. That way lots of people on the right lost their political home. On the other way they cannibalised the SPD.

Merkel said integration won’t need any extra money and it’s good for economy. And it was all forced on the population. The AfD fostered fear and feelings of insecurity while the government always told the people it’s alright, when it wasn’t.

I’m quite happy about the massive losses the CDU and CSU suffered. I’m quite sure with the end of the grand coalition, Merkel’s ability to dwarf their government partners will come to an end. Her way of doing politics without alternative almost always meant ruling in a way where the rich profit, that will come to an end, too.

‘There has to be dialogue’ – Gaby, 36, editor



A good friend of mine who would otherwise vote for the far left party Die Linke did consider voting AfD out of protest. He feels the refugee crisis was mishandled and that more attention should be on internal problems.

He is right in so far as the gap between rich and poor has only become wider and the previous governments have been very passive about that. So for many AfD voters I assume it felt unjust that Germany invests so much in refugees and not in the less privileged Germans. I personally think that it doesn’t have to be either or given how rich our country is.

Then there’s always the fear of the unknown. People in a lot of the areas in which the AfD is particularly strong don’t see many immigrants so it’s the great uncertainty about what could happen to their country and culture. There are scary stories in the media. The way refugees are forced to live in Germany makes it very hard for them to integrate and to become the assets they could be. I’m not surprised that given the often crammed accommodation, the barriers to taking up a job, the uncertainty about their future and the hostility they encounter combined with their traumatising past experiences some turn to drugs, violence or crime.

The AfD has played to all of that and also exaggerated the problems that do exist. Their easy to digest and easy to repeat slogans have worked like all propaganda does if not challenged in the right way. After all even if many conclusions are wrong, the fears are real. They have to be addressed, there has to be dialogue.