Arif Haidary, an Afghan refugee who arrived in Germany ten years ago as an unaccompanied minor, has difficulty understanding the historical change that took place during a Sunday vote.
« The election went very, very bad, » he said.
When Haidary arrived in Germany in 2015, Angela Merkel was a chancellor and the country was quoted as a model to host refugees. While much of the rest of Europe closed its borders, Germany opened the door to more than one million refugees In 2015.
But times have changed.
The Central-right Christian Democratic Alliance (CDU/CSU), which has had a hard position on migration promising a “Fundamental” review of asylum rules and Border controlscored about 29 percent of the vote in last weekend’s election.
The alternative for Germany (AfD), which was repeated Call to remigure (deportation of people with a background of migrants), obtained 20.8 percent, the highest score for the far right since the end of World War II.
Germany chose the conservative Christian Democratic Union of Friedrich Merz (CDU) in Sunday’s SNAP election, but the far -right alternative for Germany (AFD) celebrates a record result of second place. Andrew Chang breaks down the makeup of the new coalition government that will have to form the CDU and the importance of the AFD’s earnings. Images provided by Reuters, Getty Images and The Canadian Press.
The election was held after Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of confidence last year after the collapse of his coalition government.
Immigration was the highest priority of voters, especially after a series of attacks, such as when a Afghan refugee drove a car to the crowd during a demonstration in Munich Two weeks ago, killing a mother and her son.
On the night of the Munich attack, « I received so many racist messages, saying that we, Afghans, a lot of people, » said Haidary, who is also vice -president of the Munich Migration Advisory Board.
« Unfortunately, a large part of this is politicians’ fault; they often try to generalize this problem and make all the Afghans like that. I think they will now worse. All refugees are afraid. »
Fear of deportations
Friedrich Merz, who looks He became a German Chancellor after his party came out victorious, now he must try to form a coalition to govern.
Although Merz rules out an alliance with the far right, many remember that he accepted the support of the AfD a few weeks ago, when he filed an anti-immigration motion in Parliament. It was a first in the country, used to maintain a « firewall » against the far right.
That alliance led to Massive demonstrations across the country.
The term « remigration » became part of the rhetoric during the election campaign.
Afd, whose leader Alice Weidel has a relationship with a woman born in Sri Lanka even Electoral Campaign Flyers in the style of unidirectional plane tickets to send the migrants home.
« I am very worried, » said Cameron Kakande, a Uganda refugee who fled the persecution in her country four years ago by Munich. « They say that all the people with a background of migrants may have to leave the country. I am one of those people. But Uganda is not a safe place for me. »
Is considered uganda One of the most dangerous countries for 2SLGBTQ+to risk death penalty.
« Getting to Germany was not my first choice, due to the language and everything. I would have loved going to the United States or Canada. But when your life is in danger, go where it is possible to go as fast, » Kakande said.
He was able to get a visa for Germany in 2021 to fly. Since then, Kakande has been working as a HIV activist at NGOs, learned the language and feels integrated. But now it also fears more discrimination.
« You may find that there are people who have no problem with refugees, but once they begin to listen to all these (political) narratives, their mentality changes. »
Job scarcity
Germany has imposed temporary restrictions on terrestrial borders in recent months and began to return the people to Afghanistan, a first from the return to the power of the Taliban.
« The next four years will be very difficult for refugees and migratory backgrounds. These people will no longer feel comfortable and there will also be more deportations, » said Haidary.
At the same time, the German economy is in crisis after two years of recession and needs more labor with an aged population.
« Every year we have 400,000 vacant jobs. We need these people who want to work in sectors where there is scarcity, as in health care, » said Britta Coy, a founder of Juno, an NGO who helps refugee women in Munich.
For example, around 10,000 Syrians work in German hospitalsAccording to the Syrian society for doctors and pharmacists in Germany.
Juno, based on public subsidies, seeks to find new donors, as he fears a change in funding.
« I suppose (the incoming government) will reduce social AIDS for refugees and there will be even less money available for integration projects and NGOs, so important, » said Coy. « If you reduce it, people don’t have the opportunity to start a new life here. »
WATERSHED by 2SLGBTQ+ Rights?
The 2SLGBTQ+ community is also worried about seeing a decrease in their rights.
For example, Merz’s party and the AfD have promised to revoke the Act of self -determinationWhich made it easier for people to change their gender in official records.
« Merz’s phrases on genders, saying that he can support the idea of (President of the United States Donald) Trump that there are only two genres, and the AfD, who is really against LGBTQ+, even if his leader is a couple with a girl, they are not a good sign, » said Tobias Oliveira Weismanel, the Manager Director of Munich Sids-Hilfe. It is an NGO that offers services to the 2SLGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV.
He says that the current speech could lead to the stigmatization of the community, at a time when Germany is already experiencing an increase in violence against the 2slgbtq+people, according to Weisman.
« My greater concern is for trans people. We know they are already trying to depression, psychological problems and a high suicide rate, » he said. « Populism is never good for suicide. I’m really worried. »
The AfD manifesto for the last election defines the family as « Father, mother and children« Children are requested to be protected from what they describe as » trans transfer, early sexualization and gender ideology. »
Vicky Voyage, a queen in Munich, says she has already seen a change.
« Now, every time I do an hour of dragging for children, people in the far right come to protest in front of the library and say that we are pedophiles and sexualizes young people. Children have to go through a secret door so that they do not know the demonstration, » said Voyage.
Protesters « do not understand that we only create a safe space for queer children. »
In recent months, Weidel has judged well -known allies for his strong position against 2SLGBTQ+rights. It includes Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and currently a significant force in the United States government under President Donald Trump. Musc accused « The Woke Mind Virus » for the transition of her transgender daughter.
« I was thinking that we will never have a situation like in the United States, but the populism of America has arrived in Europe and, with Trump, still worse, » said Voyage. Comes the recent results of the German election as a final notice.
« If the next government fails in the next four years, the AfD will grow even more. And there is a real risk that will come to power. »
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