In the context of the upcoming general elections in Germany, scheduled on February 23, New Strategy Center publishes a new brief, offering an insight into the electoral campaign of the main political forces. The brief also explores the potential scenarios for a future governing coalition, and the foreign policy implications of a return to power by the CDU/CSU. The peculiarity of these elections is marked by a surge of the far-right on the German political scene, with Alternative für Deutschland riding a populist wave boosted not only by covert Russian hybrid interference, but also direct support from the new Trump administration. Considering this recent shift in power in Washington, Germany finds itself in a delicate position, forcing Berlin to once again re-evaluate its role in European security. What will a new Government manage the tension between overall internal dissatisfaction and an international demand for Zeitenwende?
The brief is authored by Andrei Pavel, non-resident expert, New Strategy Center.