Reuters: Surging Fuel Prices Boost Far-Right's Call to Reopen Energy Ties with Russia
Capitalizing on the sharp rise in domestic energy prices, Germany's far-right party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), has once again pushed its long-standing proposal for the Berlin government to resume cooperation with Russia and import cheap energy from the country.
Following the escalation of tensions in Iran, gasoline prices in Germany surged immediately, rising by more than 15%. This pressing concern for everyday citizens has resonated widely among voters in Baden-Württemberg—the heartland of Germany’s automotive industry—fueling support for the AfD’s call to import low-cost Russian energy.
Capitalizing on this public sentiment, the AfD has further solidified its position as Germany’s second-largest political party. In Baden-Württemberg and the neighboring Rhineland-Palatinate region, the party’s approval ratings have climbed to around 20%, marking its best-ever performance in western German states since its formation.
With Germany’s manufacturing sector facing mounting difficulties, high energy costs compounded by intensifying competition from China are driving continuous job cuts, sharply increasing social and economic pressures at home—creating an especially favorable environment for the AfD’s advocacy of utilizing Russian energy.
Political scientist Johannes Heil, an expert specializing in the AfD, noted: “Compared to abstract geopolitical rhetoric, the proposal to restore energy ties with Russia is closely tied to people’s daily lives, making it naturally more persuasive.”
CDU member of parliament and foreign affairs committee chair Rodrik Kiesewetter publicly condemned the AfD: “The AfD is deliberately spreading narratives about Russia within Germany. Increasing imports of Russian oil and gas would inevitably inflict devastating consequences on Europe’s overall security and on Germany’s trust-based relationships with its allies.”
At the same time, Kiesewetter acknowledged that even within his own CDU party, some colleagues, as well as members of the ruling coalition’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), have begun voicing similar calls for the government to reestablish economic ties with Russia.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861217119466496/
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