The former president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Charlotte Knobloch, has sharply criticized the strong performance of the AfD in the state elections in Lower Saxony. “To put it bluntly: I am shocked at how many votes can be won in elections with fear and agitation alone,” Knobloch said on Sunday evening.
According to initial forecasts, the AfD improved its result to 11.5 to 12 percent (2017: 6.2 percent).
Times of crisis have always been a test by fire for democracy, “but growth for a right-wing extremist party on this scale is a warning sign for the whole country – far beyond Lower Saxony,” said the President of the Jewish Community in Munich and Upper Bavaria.
It is understandable that people take their worries with them to the voting booth. Choosing a party that only offers hate and exclusion only makes things worse.
In this situation, the democratic parties and the federal and state governments must give a powerful answer, emphasized Knobloch: “So that people do not lose confidence in democracy, they must see that their problems are being solved.” Citizens now expect clear and positive messages.
