The Local Germany

Study: fear of social decline motivates Alternative for Germany voters

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 13:33:33 +0100

Half of AfD voters from all backgrounds cast their votes for fear of future economic losses, reports a new study.

Beauty of politicians plays an important role for German voters, study finds

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 11:26:49 +0100

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the prettiest politician of them all? (Hint: not Chancellor Merkel)

'The AfD have taken the place of Merkel’s CDU on the right of German politics'

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 13:07:02 +0200

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) caused an earthquake in the German political landscape by taking 12.6 percent of the vote in the national election on Sunday. The Local spoke to Germans who see the party as a force for good.

'I take my vote very seriously': New Germans reflect on citizenship in run-up to election

Thu, 14 Sep 2017 17:23:56 +0200

Three million new Germans can vote in the federal election on September 24th. Here are four first-time voters reflecting on their paths to citizenship as well as on Chancellor Angela Merkel, international relations and social media.

Here's why so many Germans vote for the far-right AfD

Wed, 30 Nov 2016 15:27:58 +0100

A new pan-European study analyzes why right-wing populists are on the march across Europe. One factor above all was most relevant.

Rivals dodge each other in final campaign spurt

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 10:38:00 +0200

Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Social Democrat rival Peer Steinbrück will spend the next few days whizzing through the country in a final attempt to win votes. But they're managing to avoid each other - and sticking to their heartlands.

Germans lose interest in voting as election looms

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:07:00 +0200

Germans are losing their appetite for elections more dramatically than any other western democracy bar Portugal, as disillusionment with politicians the main cause, a study released on Tuesday suggested.

Merkel disappoints elites, but not average Germans

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:25:00 +0200

German elites are unhappy with Chancellor Angela Merkel and her centre-right government, although she appears to be finding more favour with the population as a whole, two new polls indicate.

German voters growing more sceptical of campaign promises

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:01:00 +0200

As Germany's general election approaches at the end of the month, a study released on Thursday showed that two-thirds of the country's voters believe that politicians are lying when they make campaign promises.

Schäuble wants direct EU elections to fight voter apathy

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:06:00 +0200

Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has said he supports a direct election of European Union representatives after this weekend’s dismal voter turnout for the EU parliamentary election, daily Bild reported on Tuesday.