A new report by legal experts has found that efforts to ban Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could be successful — but there would be political dangers to such a move.
Besides the fact that we already had skilled-worker immigration programs for decades, you didn’t answer my question. You want the other parties to adopt AfD views “in a milder form”. Which views are those gonna be? Asylum? Immigration? Because the AfD is conflating those. And judging from their little meeting in 2024, their politicians made it clear that they also planning to deport German citizens that don’t fit their racist ideas.
EDIT: Oh, and before i forget. There are other topics the AfD is going against “the mainstream”. I wonder what the “milder form” is there. The topics among others:
Permanent border controls and technology-driven surveillance led to a 42% drop in irregular crossings during 2025.
I don’t see any evidence for that claimed cause and effect relationship. Just because irregular border crossings fell doesn’t mean that the policies worked. The article just claims it does, without providing any evidence whatsoever.
Also, it’s mixing a few things up. Irregular border crossings are primarily related to asylum seekers. Skilled-worker immigration laws have nothing to do with that.
Oh, btw. here’s a photo of a border crossing nearby. I’m still looking for that dystopian ai powered surveillance here. Can’t seem to find it… almost as if it’s all just a show for gullible people…
As a skilled immigrant to Germany, Merz didn’t do shit except further restrict pathways we had towards citizenship. The immigration offices remain underfunded and overworked to the extent that many skilled immigrants would rather leave Germany (or indeed are forced out due to missed deadlines from immigration processing) than continue to deal with them.
Immigrants should try to get German lawmakers to change this since it doesn’t do any good for Germany to allow skilled immigrants in but can’t retain them.
The AfD could be motivated by racism and hatred. The centrist motivation would be to preserve a country’s cultural identity. This could be achieved by only permitting migrants with talent or needed skills.
For example, during Christmas time, Germans set up outside markets in which they sell things. Suppose there is a group of migrants whose religion forbids going to these markets. If this group becomes large in a certain city, these markets might go out of business. Also, suppose some in these groups attack these markets because they feel they are corrupting their children.
At least five people, including a 9-year-old, are now known to have been killed in the vehicle-ramming attack on a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg on Friday, German officials said Saturday. The four other victims killed in the attack were adults, according to police.
At least 200 more people were injured when a car plowed into festive market-goers in the eastern German city, around 75 miles west of the capital Berlin, according to Minister President of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff.
There are currently thousands of Christmas markets held in Germany every year (at least 3250, up to 7000). The rumors of the tradition dying out due to migration/terrorist attacks that were spread by right wing media don’t hold any water. They’re not going anywhere.
Offenbach am Main, which is the city with the highest share of immigrants in Germany (65%), holds a Christmas market every year. It is one of the markets with the longest duration in Hesse (November 17 - December 29 in 2025).
You’re asking me to suppose things about migrants and their effect on society and derive xenophobic viewpoints from that. But those are just made up scenarios based on preconceived notions.
As made clear by the example you chose to illustrate your point, there’s not much substance to your claims in my opinion.
The Magdeburg car-ramming was one of a series of attacks involving immigrants that pushed migration to the forefront of the campaign for Germany’s national election in February 2025. The defendant arrived in Germany in 2006 and had received permanent residency.
Okay? First you used it as an example for a violent expression of disdain for German culture by migrants. Now you’re saying it was one of the catalysts for the shift of public perception of problems resulting from migration.
Christmas markets have previously been targeted by vehicle-ramming attacks, such as the 2016 attack in Berlin.[13] That attack, perpetrated by the Islamic State, killed 12 people and injured 56 others.[14] Minister of the interior and community Nancy Faeser said in November 2024 that there were no “concrete” threats to Christmas markets,[15][16] but that it was wise to maintain vigilance.[16]
Two weeks prior to the attack, an Iraqi man was arrested on suspicion of planning an attack against a Christmas market in Augsburg, Bavaria.[17]
The way to undermine the AfD’s popularity is to adopt their popular views but in a milder form.
That is quite literally the opposite of what every reputable political scientist is saying…
Also, what the fuck is the “milder form” of deporting German citizens?
The centrist view on immigration would only permit migrants who have talent or needed skills.
Besides the fact that we already had skilled-worker immigration programs for decades, you didn’t answer my question. You want the other parties to adopt AfD views “in a milder form”. Which views are those gonna be? Asylum? Immigration? Because the AfD is conflating those. And judging from their little meeting in 2024, their politicians made it clear that they also planning to deport German citizens that don’t fit their racist ideas.
EDIT: Oh, and before i forget. There are other topics the AfD is going against “the mainstream”. I wonder what the “milder form” is there. The topics among others:
From https://www.visaverge.com/news/friedrich-merz-leads-conservative-push-to-reshape-germanys-immigration-policy/
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has implemented sharply more restrictive migration policies while prioritizing pathways for specialized labor.
Permanent border controls and technology-driven surveillance led to a 42% drop in irregular crossings during 2025.
The Skilled Immigration Act was updated to fast-track visas for nurses and engineers to address labor shortages.
The AfD has stands on other topics, but I suspect its popularity is their view on immigration.
I don’t see any evidence for that claimed cause and effect relationship. Just because irregular border crossings fell doesn’t mean that the policies worked. The article just claims it does, without providing any evidence whatsoever.
Also, it’s mixing a few things up. Irregular border crossings are primarily related to asylum seekers. Skilled-worker immigration laws have nothing to do with that.
Oh, btw. here’s a photo of a border crossing nearby. I’m still looking for that dystopian ai powered surveillance here. Can’t seem to find it… almost as if it’s all just a show for gullible people…
Whether it was the result of Merz policies, the reduction in illegal border crossers will undermine the AfD’s appeal.
It doesn’t. Illegal border crossings are already down for years. Btw. do you see the refugees in the photo i posted?
Then why is the AfD popular if there few illegal border crossers?
So what the C*U is doing? Doesnt really look that effective ^^
From https://www.visaverge.com/news/friedrich-merz-leads-conservative-push-to-reshape-germanys-immigration-policy/
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has implemented sharply more restrictive migration policies while prioritizing pathways for specialized labor.
Permanent border controls and technology-driven surveillance led to a 42% drop in irregular crossings during 2025.
The Skilled Immigration Act was updated to fast-track visas for nurses and engineers to address labor shortages.
As a skilled immigrant to Germany, Merz didn’t do shit except further restrict pathways we had towards citizenship. The immigration offices remain underfunded and overworked to the extent that many skilled immigrants would rather leave Germany (or indeed are forced out due to missed deadlines from immigration processing) than continue to deal with them.
Immigrants should try to get German lawmakers to change this since it doesn’t do any good for Germany to allow skilled immigrants in but can’t retain them.
A milder form of racism and hatred? Isn’t that just normal conservativism?
The AfD could be motivated by racism and hatred. The centrist motivation would be to preserve a country’s cultural identity. This could be achieved by only permitting migrants with talent or needed skills.
There’s already an Einbürgerungstest as part of permanent residency and citizenship. Many native born Germans couldn’t pass it.
Passing an engineering test is better than passing an Einburgerungstest.
Could you elaborate on what constitutes the German cultural identity you mentioned?
For example, during Christmas time, Germans set up outside markets in which they sell things. Suppose there is a group of migrants whose religion forbids going to these markets. If this group becomes large in a certain city, these markets might go out of business. Also, suppose some in these groups attack these markets because they feel they are corrupting their children.
Remember this attack. From https://abc7news.com/post/magdeburg-market-attack-death-toll-christmas-germany-rises-5-more-200-injured/15685891/
At least five people, including a 9-year-old, are now known to have been killed in the vehicle-ramming attack on a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg on Friday, German officials said Saturday. The four other victims killed in the attack were adults, according to police.
At least 200 more people were injured when a car plowed into festive market-goers in the eastern German city, around 75 miles west of the capital Berlin, according to Minister President of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff.
There are currently thousands of Christmas markets held in Germany every year (at least 3250, up to 7000). The rumors of the tradition dying out due to migration/terrorist attacks that were spread by right wing media don’t hold any water. They’re not going anywhere.
Offenbach am Main, which is the city with the highest share of immigrants in Germany (65%), holds a Christmas market every year. It is one of the markets with the longest duration in Hesse (November 17 - December 29 in 2025).
The attacker in Magdeburg was a mentally ill man, motivated by far right extremism. He claimed to be 'the most aggressive critic of Islam in history’ and was a staunch proponent of the AfD.
You’re asking me to suppose things about migrants and their effect on society and derive xenophobic viewpoints from that. But those are just made up scenarios based on preconceived notions. As made clear by the example you chose to illustrate your point, there’s not much substance to your claims in my opinion.
From https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/germany-magdeburg-christmas-market-attack-defendant-convicted-o93064
The Magdeburg car-ramming was one of a series of attacks involving immigrants that pushed migration to the forefront of the campaign for Germany’s national election in February 2025. The defendant arrived in Germany in 2006 and had received permanent residency.
Okay? First you used it as an example for a violent expression of disdain for German culture by migrants. Now you’re saying it was one of the catalysts for the shift of public perception of problems resulting from migration.
No apparent reference to my reply.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Magdeburg_car_attack
Christmas markets have previously been targeted by vehicle-ramming attacks, such as the 2016 attack in Berlin.[13] That attack, perpetrated by the Islamic State, killed 12 people and injured 56 others.[14] Minister of the interior and community Nancy Faeser said in November 2024 that there were no “concrete” threats to Christmas markets,[15][16] but that it was wise to maintain vigilance.[16]
Two weeks prior to the attack, an Iraqi man was arrested on suspicion of planning an attack against a Christmas market in Augsburg, Bavaria.[17]
Could be motivated by racism and hatred? You doubt that for some reason?
The AfD could be motivated by racism but not the CDU.
Whelp, you said it again for some reason. Could be. You are really really telling on yourself now.
Because that has worked so well in the past 20 years.
Did you forget an /s?