Mainstream politicians express alarm while lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt welcomes congratulations from Elon Musk

Mainstream politicians express alarm while lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt welcomes congratulations from Elon Musk

Mainstream politicians around Europe have expressed alarm after the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) swept to a historic state election victory in Germany, while nationalist figures cheered the result as a mandate for change.

While falling just short of an absolute majority, the AfD surged into first place in the Saxony-Anhalt state election on Sunday, exit polls ⁠showed, putting the far right within reach ​of power at ‌the state level for ‌the first time since the second world war.

  • lemdeggity@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    15·
    1 day ago

    There may be a gap here in the definition of “liberal”. Liberalism is a political philosophy that also encompasses most traditional conservatives. It is different from the colloquial usage. It’s loosely defined as the belief in individual freedoms, including the right to private property. It is inherently capitalist and therefore socialists, communists and anarchists generally do not consider them to be of the left.

    • UnequalExchange@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      7 hours ago

      …uhhh a socialist and a communist are the exact same thing…

      Youre right about everything elsee though.

    • LittleBorat3@lemmy.worldEnglish
      41·
      1 day ago

      If you split yourself off the “left in the widest sense” you have 5 percent of the votes and you are essentially meaningless. Stuck to your values but meaningless.

      The left does not need more splitting while the right manages to rally behind one or two people.

      • Miaou@jlai.luEnglish
        3·
        17 hours ago

        Unless your election system is FPTP, I don’t see a problem with doing just 5%.

      • lemdeggity@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        4·
        1 day ago

        As I say, liberals believe in capitalism by definition. The impact of your vote once every few years in an election under this system pales in comparison to the influence that the owner class have due to their wealth and power. This is fundamental. This is why you get all the anti-liberal sentiment from anti-capitalists.

        Furthermore you talk about convincing some percentage of voters in order to change the system. The early turnout figure for this election is 54% and that’s considered high… What of the non voters?