With well over 40% for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Saxony-Anhalt has witnessed a landmark election night. DW's reporters were on the ground.
Proportional system usually results in coalition government so the radicals are forced to mellow out. Keeping AfD out of coalition by firewall might do much more harm than good in the long run. This kind of result emboldens them to stay extremist.
History and research shows the opposite to be true. Coalition, talking, taking over their topics, anything legitimizing strengthens them. The only effective counter is a broad rejection across politics, society, including companies, religious institutions etc, and press.
Any examples? In our national parliament radical left mellowed out after joining coalition. It turns out talking big from opposition is cheap. I think current Italian government is also a case of this.
I’ve read an article previously. I don’t think I’ll be able to find it again.
I guess that’s the two possible roads. Integrate into the system with compromise, becoming mellow, or get legitimized by others to be strengthened as an extremist, eventually grabbing power.
Proportional system usually results in coalition government so the radicals are forced to mellow out. Keeping AfD out of coalition by firewall might do much more harm than good in the long run. This kind of result emboldens them to stay extremist.
History and research shows the opposite to be true. Coalition, talking, taking over their topics, anything legitimizing strengthens them. The only effective counter is a broad rejection across politics, society, including companies, religious institutions etc, and press.
Any examples? In our national parliament radical left mellowed out after joining coalition. It turns out talking big from opposition is cheap. I think current Italian government is also a case of this.
I’ve read an article previously. I don’t think I’ll be able to find it again.
I guess that’s the two possible roads. Integrate into the system with compromise, becoming mellow, or get legitimized by others to be strengthened as an extremist, eventually grabbing power.