Angela Merkel has won a fourth term in office despite an impressive showing from the far-right party in Germany, Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Despite the influence of AfD, news analyst Charlie Sennott said the focus ought to be on the continuing success of the political center in Germany, since it has implications for the function of the European Union.
“I think the big news on Merkel’s win is the maturity of that win, and what it means for stability for Germany as a core country inside the EU, really the standard bearer of the EU, and the stability that will bring to the future of the EU,” Sennott said on BPR today.
Sennott also said the “center holds in Germany,” which isn’t the case in the United States.
“In America, the center is rapidly withering away, and we’re ending up as one of those countries with a sort of far-left and a far-right, and no functioning government in the middle,” he said.
Sennott explained that the AfD will cause friction within the governing system in Germany, but not enough to destabilize Merkel.
“She’s going to pay a price for [the AfD’s success], but it’s worth pointing out that she’s also going to get a fourth term, which is historic, and that she has a lot of momentum for her center-right party,” said Sennott.
Merkel’s party lost 8.5 percent of the vote from 2013, while the far-right party, AfD, gained 7.9 percent.
“It’s enough that they’re going to be a thorn in her side,” said Sennott.
Charlie Sennott is a news analyst WGBH, where he also heads up the GroundTruth Project. To hear his interview in its entirety, click on the audio player above.
