Hesse's Prime Minister Boris Rhein calls for a continuation of the debate about cityscape and migration after the AfD's successes
Quick Look
After the AfD's state election victories in three federal states, Hesse's Prime Minister Boris Rhein emphasizes the need to continue the discussion initiated by Chancellor Friedrich Merz about the cityscape and migration policy and to draw lessons from it, while the AfD is at 29 percent nationwide and the CDU/CSU at 19 percent.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The AfD achieved significant success in the state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, achieving its best result to date of 43.8 percent in Saxony-Anhalt. In terms of federal politics, the AfD is polling at 29 percent, while the CDU/CSU has fallen to 19 percent.
After the AfD election successes, Hesse's Prime Minister Boris Rhein believes it is necessary to continue the discussion about changing the "cityscape" triggered by statements by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (both CDU). The debate that Merz initiated was right, Rhein told “Bild am Sonntag”. However, it was then said “hastyly”: “It shouldn’t be discussed like that.” Rhein made it clear: “Yes, we have to discuss it, and in the end we also have to learn lessons from it.”
Merz said about a year ago that the federal government was correcting previous failures in migration policy and making progress, "but of course we still have this problem in the cityscape." He later specified that problems were caused by migrants who did not have permanent residence status, did not work and did not follow the rules in Germany.
AfD wins elections in three federal states
Prime Minister Rhein said the migration crisis had been addressed with “big steps” but had not yet been resolved. “Of course we have a problem, for example with immigration into the social systems. You have to say it like that and then find a solution.” There is also an issue with crime committed by immigrants. “It makes no sense at all to hide these issues behind a firewall or never discuss them again. “They don’t disappear because of that,” said Rhein.
The AfD more than doubled its result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania from 16.7 to 38.2 percent and thus emerged as the winner of the state election in the third federal state after Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. In Saxony-Anhalt, it had previously achieved its highest result to date in a state election with 43.8 percent - just missing an absolute majority.
Union at Insa at 19 percent - AfD at 29 percent
Nationwide, the AfD remains unchanged at 29 percent in a recent Insa survey for “Bild am Sonntag”. The Union has lost one point compared to the survey a week ago and is now at 19 percent. In a YouGov survey published in mid-September, the Union even reached a historic low of 18 percent - the AfD was also at 29 percent.
When asked what he now expects from the Chancellor, Rhein said: "We have to regain the sovereignty to interpret the everyday questions of normal people as a centrist party." The fuel price brake is a good answer. "But it's paradoxical to decide to cap fuel prices and take money out of people's pockets at the supermarket checkout." Rhein was alluding to planned higher taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sparkling wine.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The debate about migration policy and cityscape will continue in the coming weeks, with possible political consequences for the Union.
Likely · Within weeks
The AfD is likely to maintain or expand its strong position in polls and elections as long as the migration issue remains unresolved.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific measures is the federal government planning to address the migration challenges?
- How will the Union win back its lost voters?
- What specific lessons does the Hesse state government draw from the migration debate?
