this post was submitted on 12 May 2025
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[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 25 points 1 day ago (3 children)

There's growing concern in Germany that society is becoming increasingly polarized.

This is a major objective of disinformation campaigns across Europe and other Western democracies that are run by authoritarian regimes, and it is why these regimes support this right-wing party to the point that it becomes a puppet organization. AfD head Alice Weidel is celebrated like a star in Chinese state-media.

[–] Saleh@feddit.org 14 points 23 hours ago

While this is an aspect we should not forget that the AfD is homegrown in Germany exploiting long held racist and bigoted views that were kept quiet but present in society. It is well known that rising inequality makes it easy for fascists to gain power and the growing inequality in Germany hasn't been seriously addressed by any governing coalition in many years.

Also many of the AfD elites have a history in Germanys neonazi scene of the 90s and early 00s. The neoliberal and neofeudal side (Weidel, von Storch and the like) have been deeply embedded in their respective circles.

Finally we saw the German media failing again and again to find a proper way of dealing with the AfD without working for them. Instead over the past year they disproportionately followed AfD topics like migration and now even started making far right populist propaganda programs in public broadcast television.

Foreign desinformation campaigns are the fertilizer to boost growth, but the soil, water and light are present in Germany and so far the supposed democrats did a terrible job at keeping them from the growing fascist threat.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 3 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

Agreed. If AfD is forbidden for good, I'm not saying there isn't a chance that some loudmouths will be able to turn it to their advantage and do some serious rabble-rousing, but there's a larger chance that people will just move on. (Almost) nobody wants to vote for an illegal party. People resent and spit (that's why they vote AfD in the first place), but not (usually) to the point of rebellion.

Yes, there are a lot of additional qualifiers in the text above. Of course we can't be 100% sure. I mean, look at the USA...

OTOH, disinformation and hybrid warfare are recognized for what they are in Germany and the EU, and I just hope we do more against it. Enough, before it gets even worse.

Also, the CxU have shifted so far to the right now, they can easily mop up the angry xenophobes. Sadly.

[–] schizoidman@lemm.ee 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

AfD head Alice Weidel is celebrated like a star in Chinese state-media.

Source?

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Fan cult: Why AfD election frontrunner Alice Weidel is celebrated like a star in China

In China, 阿丽丝-魏德尔 (Ālìsī Wèidé'ěr) is a star. "My uncle called me the other day and excitedly asked if she would be Germany's new chancellor," says a Chinese IT student in Berlin, who does not want her name to be published and wants to be called Maxine Zhou here. "She perfectly fits the nationalistic and strict image of a politician, which is one of the favorite types of conservative Chinese." [...]

You may also read here:

China courts Germany's far-right populist AfD

The far-right populist Alternative for Germany party rejects a values-based foreign policy, just as much as it rejects NATO and the US. That approach has attracted the attention of Beijing.

But there is more, a quick research reveals a lot of resources about this party's China and Russia connection.

Addition:

Marriage of Convenience: How European Far-Right and Far-Left Discovered China

European far-right and far-left political parties, though ideologically opposed, are finding common ground in their alignments with China, echoing Beijing’s narratives and raising concerns about foreign influence and manipulation.

[–] bungalowtill@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 8 hours ago

European far-left parties aligning with China! Ah!

Which far-left parties would that be?

eyes squinting

“The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia”

yeah, of course, didn’t you know that?