Habeck calls sympathy in Germany for authoritarian governments “extremely dangerous”

Green Party politician Robert Habeck has warned of a threat to democracy in Germany. "There is obviously a glorification in some parts of society that the West, the EU and perhaps democracy are the problem and Russia is the solution. That is extremely dangerous," the former Vice Chancellor told the "Tagesspiegel".

With regard to the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the AfD has become the strongest force, he said: "Criticism and, on my behalf, protest against political conditions are always possible and yes, the essence of democracy. But to conclude from this that democracy is an inferior system or that authoritarian governments - with the protagonists Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin - represent the better promise is an absolute fallacy."

He demanded an effort from the democratic center. Otherwise, “in ten to fifteen years there will be a risk of conditions like those in Saxony-Anhalt also at the federal level.” Democracy in Germany is still stable and still has enough substance to draw the right conclusions from the problems and reposition itself, emphasized Habeck. It must be possible to “create more trust in the institutions and principles of democracy, solve social problems and enable more participation”.