Fucking ban them.
Another reminder that there has been a strong political biases on social media platform X before the 2025 German Federal Election. Elon Musk’s X boosted pro-Putin and pro-China party Alternative for Germany AfD (as well as Sarah Wagenknecht’s BSW) while suppressing speech of moderately progressive political rivals.
… Default feed of X showed more content from far-right AfD than from other political parties … [The] findings suggest that engagement measures and unknown factors related to party affiliation contribute to the overrepresentation of extremes of the German political party spectrum in the default algorithmic feed of X.
Similar issues remain with (most) other platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, as shown in other investigations. Most digital platform algorithms rank content eliciting fear and anger higher than any other speech as we know. That contributes also to the political landscape we have today.
Solution
Quick reminder that Germay’s right-wing AfD is backed by China and Russia.
And the electorate who vote for them.
Its insane to me that after 80 years we are having to learn the same lessons over again. What’s even more insane is that these far-right groups are being pushed by Russia, China, Iran, etc. And they are so so successful beyond their wildest dreams.
You’d think people would stop and ask is this source or astroturfing real? But, no, we eat this shit up.
It’s not insane at all, it’s how things have gone every time since the French Revolution. The liberal centre allies with the left to defeat the right and get into power, then turns on the left to keep power, turning the right into a weapon. Then, when the left is defeated, the now radicalised right eats the centre, and the cycle repeats.
Im talking specifically in the context of Germany. They are as a people deeply ashamed of their past Nazi history, and the genocide of the Jewish people. Ive been there many times, and been to exhibits around Germany, and almost without fail, when Nazi Germany comes up they get very uncomfortable about it.
The fact that they are trying to repeat Nazism now is wild to me considering its become a part of their cultural identity to be ashamed of what their grandparents and great grandparents did.
Most people don’t want Nazis in power again, even ~half of the AfD voters don’t, although some have certainly been radicalized. The AfD is just very successful on social media, because they exploit the dissatisfaction of voters, they are controversial, they don’t present as and are often not perceived as Nazis, and because conservatives helps them with the fear mongering against immigrants. The Cristian democrats try to get the AfD voters back by copying their talking points, not realizing that they make them seem more credible in the process.
Most social media platforms are also happy to promote right wing populists and extremists because they are good for business, and some are owned by extremists in right wing bubbles too, of course. The EU regulations need to be actually enforced, but the US will do anything they can to stop this.
Other parties desperately need better social media strategies. For the last few years, the AfD was basically unopposed in many feeds and the polls are the result of that. Gladly the left party has catched up quite a bit in recent months, but the AfD still has the lead online and other parties struggle to adapt.
China and Russia aren’t holding a gun at voters telling people to vote for the nazis.
as well as that might be, although I am not sure the China connections is really proven, the AfD is German and voted for by a large share of the German populace not because Russia brainwashed them but because they do agree with the AfD policies. That is the obvious danger and not acknowledging that will make it even worse.
They are brainwashed because the afd policies are hurting them more than any other party yet they still vote for them because Axel Springer press rags are saying bullshit propaganda about anything left of CDU
Exactly. Time for the Totale Rückverdummung (“total restupidification”) and balkanization of Germany. They just cannot be trusted. 30 years after they disolved the stasi they’re already back at it.
Which far-right (or far-left, or any other group with any potential to destabilize countries) isn’t?
In which countries is the far left on the rise? From what I’ve seen it looks like Western democracies are all threatened by a lurch towards the far right.
Agreed. But we shouldn’t rule that out for tbe future imho, as dictatorships like China use both extremist groups -whether they are on the rise or not- to promote its own agenda by sowing division among Western societies.
There has been a good analysis a few months ago about that:
[Right-wing parties like] Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and France’s Rassemblement National (RN) prioritize economic pragmatism and national sovereignty. These parties argue that decoupling from China or imposing economic sanctions harms European economies, advocating instead for stronger economic cooperation with Beijing. They view China as a crucial trading partner and a counterbalance to US influence, frequently criticizing the EU for its alignment with Washington on foreign policy issues.
Far-left parties, on the other hand, approach China from an entirely different ideological framework, rooted in critiques of Western imperialism and neoliberalism. They accuse the EU and the US of hypocrisy, using human rights as a geopolitical tool to undermine China while ignoring their own failures. The far-left views China’s state-led economic model as an alternative to the neoliberal capitalist paradigm, lauding its emphasis on state planning and development. Skeptical of militarized policies, far-left groups also advocate for dialogue and cooperation rather than confrontation. They tend to resist efforts to isolate Beijing, framing such moves as exacerbating global tensions and hindering progress on critical issues like climate change.
which far left parties are we talking about again?
I’d like to add some context for people reading this comment.
This analysis by CHOICE was funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a Washington-based private non-profit that has served as a frontline actor of American soft power. NED has been funded by John M. Olin foundation and the Bradley foundation, both conservative organizations. While NED claims its interests lie in the spread of liberal democracy, it has come under fire by several people from both within and outside the US for paternalistic policies and meddling in other countries’ affairs. Links to that here below: https://books.google.com/books?id=yLWOAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA311#v=onepage&q=&f=false https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Endowment_for_Democracy#cite_note-61
According to sociologist William Robinson, NED funds during the Reagan years were “ultimately used for five overlapping pseudo-covert activities: leadership training for pro-American elites, promotion of pro-American educational systems and mass media, strengthening the ‘institutions of democracy’ by funding pro-American organizations in the target state, propaganda, and the development of transnational elite networks.”
“those who spearheaded creation of NED have long acknowledged it was part of an effort to move from covert to overt efforts to foster democracy” and cited as evidence a 1991 interview in which then-NED president Allen Weinstein said, “A lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA.”
Political scientist Lindsey A. O’Rourke writes that the Reagan-era NED played a key role in U.S. efforts “to promote democratic transitions in Chile, Haiti, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, the Philippines, Poland, and Suriname,” but did so to promote the success of pro-U.S. parties, not just to promote democracy, and did not support communist or socialist opposition parties. The North American Congress on Latin America says that the NED engages in a "a very particular form of low-intensity democracy chained to pro-market economics–in countries from Nicaragua to the Philippines, Ukraine to Haiti, overturning unfriendly ‘authoritarian’ governments (many of which the United States had previously supported) and replacing them with handpicked pro-market allies.
NED is an instrument of American soft power that is mainly interested in promoting a US led world order that centers “liberal” democracy and pro-business policies. It has a bias, an agenda, and the means to carry them out. Having “democracy” in the name doesn’t mean that they are altruistic in nature.
One thing that the analysis posted above does not show is the role of the American CPAC in supporting and rallying the European far right through CPAC Hungary, which has become a hub for parties like Vox and the Dutch Party for Freedom. https://www.cpac.org/post/cpac-will-return-to-hungary-for-third-year-in-2024
The analysis is made to place the blame for a rising European fascist wave on China, while it ignores key factors in the formation of these groups. Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, Pat Buchanan, and Richard Spencer are just some examples of American pundits and politicians that have been active in Europe, creating a ground floor for fascism to rise in the continent.
The US has all sorts of organizations that have been actively helping right wing movements around the globe for decades. From operation Gladio in Italy during the mid-20th century, to active organizations working to shape foreign policy in America’s favor today. Hell, even the NRA has been involved in promoting right wing thought around the world. https://apnews.com/article/1c3d04173b6343bd8ffa45a3487c2e28 https://www.americasquarterly.org/fulltextarticle/the-nras-hemispheric-reach/ https://aoav.org.uk/2025/the-national-rifle-associations-international-funding-and-activities-examined/
Why isn’t this shown in the “analysis”? because that’s not an analysis at all. It’s a puff piece designed place the finger on China, while whitewashing American influence abroad. This is not good journalism, and it certainly should not be a trusted source of information.
Doesn’t matter. Just another 5-10% missing for a possible goverment coalition on top of the far right also do their part in preventing stable, working governments.
See (fitting the topic) Germany’s new, russophile BSW (fortunately fallen below 5% on the federal level but obstructing constructive government building in several states).
Also there is a lot in most parliamentary systems that requires 2/3 majorities (like appointing new judges for example) which is not a problem in a working democracy when nobody actually disagrees on certain neccessary things but becomes highly problematic once far-right and far-feft, both paid to work against the country, reach 33% together.
Seriously… you might pretend that the talk about far-right and far-left sponsored by Russia is just some both-sides rhetoric but Russia indeed doesn’t care as long as it’s weakening democratic governments.
PS: Also left parties supporting Russia don’t need to be on the rise. On the contrary a left party peddling Kremlin narratives is helping to push politics to the right because sane people now have to chose between voting center (so more right than they actually like to) or supporting Russia… Again: let’s take Germany as an example, where the Left showed a lot of growth and then hit a wall. Because their “we ‘support’ Ukraine but then are against all weapon deliveries and insist that talking to Russia and China is the only solution”-bullshit disqualifies them for most.
don’t confuse far-right witrh right extremist, the afd was far-right 10 years ago, now they go further. The CDU/CSU is now far-right where the AfD was 10 years ago
on the other side we have Die Linke, which has adopted mostly SPD posiitions (what some years ago was called middle left)
Germany is a stellar example for the overton window moving to the right, i would argue that we don’t have any left-extremists parties anymore and hardly far-left ones. the only one getting over 5% is decidedly left, but doesn’t go further.
Some are financed by US and South American oligarchs.
Which ones?
One example is Chega in Portugal, another is PiS in Poland. Others are double dipping like Fidezs.
Are there some sources for this?
Oh fun! Anything not neoliberal centrist is now Russia and China!
Neoliberal “centrists” are also paid, just not by states but by the same oligarchs (and their lobbyist organisations) already controlling Russia and the US.
Nazis in Germany? Must be the fault of those pesky chainese!!
Ah yes, election polls 3.5 years before the next election
Nationwide election, yes it’s a bit early. But don’t forget that Germany has 16 states. The next election, that could have drastic effects for the nation, is early next year. Given, I don’t expect The Länd (Baden-Württemberg) to vote blue/brown, but anything other than a big flop for the AFD will once again shift the whole political landscape here to the right.
In a country not having only 2 relevant parties.
The other 75% goes somewhere.
Get your fucking shit together Germany!
Please don’t let your government be like ours in the US, Germany. Be better.
Luckily the Nazis will support Israel in it’s genocide, so it’s okay according to every German institution.
It’s so over Germany bros
