A week before regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on citizens to defend democracy and show courage in the face of the strengthening of the far right.
During an event in Berlin on Saturday, Merkel stated that Germany is facing a situation that has not been experienced for many decades and that citizens must commit to protecting democracy.
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“We have to fight for this democracy, stand up for it, be a little braver and say that this is a wonderful way to live,” she said.
Merkel stressed that the majority of Germans do not vote for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
According to the former chancellor, the AfD is particularly strong in the former East German states, but in recent years has expanded its support to the western part of the country.
“It has become a pan-German phenomenon,” Merkel said, referring to the AfD’s results in regional elections in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Speaking about the election campaign in Saxony-Anhalt, Merkel said that the AfD has managed to a considerable extent to “dominate all our discussions from morning to evening.”
According to her, this has meant that citizens no longer have a clear idea of what other political parties offer and aim for.
Elections for the new state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt will take place on September 6.
The AfD leads significantly in pre-election polls, making this race an important test of the strength of the far right in German politics.