Attacks, Political Turmoil, and Trump: Germany’s Rocky Election Run-Up
AFP/APP
Berlin: Germany’s early elections, scheduled for Sunday, have been marked by political instability, a series of deadly attacks, and unprecedented tensions with the United States.
The turmoil began on November 6, when the outgoing coalition government collapsed—the same day Donald Trump secured re-election in the US.
Spate of Attacks
Five days after Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in December, a tragic incident in Magdeburg saw a man driving an SUV through a Christmas market crowd, killing six and injuring hundreds. Investigations revealed the Saudi suspect had far-right and anti-Islam sentiments.
Another attack in early January further inflamed the political climate when a man armed with a kitchen knife attacked a kindergarten group in Aschaffenburg, killing a two-year-old boy and an adult trying to protect the children. The attacker, a 28-year-old Afghan national, was promptly arrested.
Tensions escalated just ten days before the election when another Afghan man drove a Mini Cooper into a street rally in Munich, killing a mother and her two-year-old daughter. A recent stabbing attack at Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial, where a Syrian suspect reportedly sought to target Jews, has further heightened security concerns.
These incidents have intensified debates over immigration and security, with conservative frontrunner Friedrich Merz of the CDU-CSU alliance calling for stricter immigration policies.
Cracks in the ‘Firewall’
Following the Aschaffenburg attack, Merz advocated for sweeping asylum reforms, arguing that offenders “are running around freely in Germany.” His proposal to permanently police borders and deny entry to all undocumented migrants was passed in parliament—with unexpected support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
This collaboration shattered Germany’s long-standing “firewall” against far-right parties, triggering a political crisis. Scholz’s Social Democrats accused Merz of “opening the gate of hell,” and Merkel herself broke her silence to criticize Merz’s approach. The move also led to massive protests, with 250,000 people demonstrating in Munich alone.
Trump’s Return and Its Impact
Trump’s re-election has cast uncertainty over Germany’s security and transatlantic relations. His outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his description of Zelensky as a “dictator” have alarmed European leaders. The US has hinted at a strategic shift toward Asia, raising concerns about NATO’s future.
Adding to the turmoil, Trump’s allies have directly criticized Germany. Tech mogul Elon Musk, now Trump’s “government efficiency” chief, has publicly supported the AfD and ridiculed Scholz. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance delivered a scathing speech at the Munich Security Conference, dismissing the EU’s “firewalls” against far-right cooperation and urging Germany to heed voter demands.
With Germany’s elections taking place amid security fears, political upheaval, and growing transatlantic uncertainty, the country faces one of its most challenging electoral moments in decades.
