Germany’s far right gains off VW troubles
The far-right Alternative for Germany is blaming the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the EU for VW's difficulties.
Volkswagen's financial troubles are providing a boost for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of the upcoming state election in Saxony-Anhalt. Tino Chrupalla, the AfD's federal spokesperson, blames the declining car industry on the country's economic and energy policies, under the leadership of Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The crisis comes at a challenging time for Merz, who had promised to reform the economy and revitalize industrial bases when he took office in 2025. However, automotive suppliers, chemical companies, and other manufacturing firms are experiencing job losses, high energy prices, and competition from Chinese exports. The AfD is capitalizing on this panic, blaming the crisis on Merz and the EU's climate agenda, which initially proposed banning new combustion-engine vehicles by 2035.
While the party is not focusing on the complexities of China's rise, it is using the threat of job cuts and factory closures to criticize the country's political rivals. The AfD's support in Saxony-Anhalt has reached 43%, ahead of the Christian Democrats, highlighting the impact of the Volkswagen crisis on the party's political gains.
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