Politweariness

In democracies, Politverdrossenheit manifests itself in a shift to the right at the ballot box.

Taststy brown cheese from Holland (©TAZ)

We recently saw this in the Netherlands, where the nationalist, anti-EU, and anti-Islam PVV (Partij voor de Vrijheid - Party for Freedom) of the right-wing populist Geert Wilders won the parliamentary elections with 23.5% of the votes and a clear margin to other parties. In his election propaganda, Geert has even proposed leaving the European Union, a Nedxit.

Triumphant Geert and losers Frans Timmermans, the leader of the red-green combination
of the socialists, PvdA and GroenLinks, and Henri Bontenbal of the
Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) sat together after the election (©IPS).

The Journal of International Politics and Society (IPS) states, "Tensions around new social inequalities and divisions are expressing themselves almost everywhere through radical right-wing populism or national populism. In many European countries, so-called flank parties have already reached the center of power. See Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Italy or the Sweden-Democrats' toleration role in the Swedish government. See the rise in polls and regional elections of the ultra-radical, populist AfD in Germany. And how far away is Marine Le Pen from the French presidency? And then, of course, there is the shadow of a possible new presidency of Donald Trump in America.".

An empty wallet. Germany needs brought-forward elections (©AfD)

In Germany, the right-wing AfD is now the second strongest party nationwide, with 22% support in opinion polls. The apparent reason for their rise is a general dissatisfaction with the traffic light coalition government. So the parties forming the German government fear brought-forward elections more than the devil fears holy water.

However, the reasons for populism in Europe are more profound.

People see that in the past, everything was better, and, above all, they quickly blame the fear of personal social decline on those at the top.

Since right-wing agitators threaten to win the next elections, as in the USA and France, governments are trying to demonstrate their ability to act by spending money and shying away from distribution conflicts. Everywhere in the West, the populist wave is costing money that is generated by making debts. 

Only in Germany is government spending limited by the Schuldenbremse. However, with 60 billion euros suddenly missing, investments in innovations are compromised. Germany's economy risks transitioning from stagnation into a recession. Presently, the German break on debts is in jeopardy with the need for money in investments our grandchildren would benefit from.

Dear voter, accept that it's not going to be like it used to be, and it's certainly not going to get better. Don't you see the world situation? I'm not talking about Corona, the pandemic that has set everyone back economically, nor am I talking about the two ongoing wars that are killing people and destroying buildings and infrastructure. All of this is contributing to a decline in living standards.

However, the most important will be how the Western world copes with a rising India, an awakening Africa, and China's world-power aspirations. The fight of an ever-increasing population for limited resources, i.e., minerals, agricultural products, and, above all, water, has long since begun.

In addition, countries tend to overestimate their growth opportunities. Economic output has stagnated in Italy for many years - and is now becoming apparent in Germany. So, as in the past, economic growth will only be possible at the expense of others. As all try to increase their share of the finite pie available, it leads to a shortage of raw materials and rising prices, i.e., inflation.

Inflation has only just begun. When Argentina, with its 140%, wants to change its currency to dollars, it will only have a delaying effect on its rotten economy. Inflation is the classical way to "reduce" rising national debts by shrinking their actual value.

In the meantime, radical right-wing parties are promising a return to nationalism as a cure for the misery.

The political situation today is often compared to that at the end of the 1920s. We Germans are burnt children. So resist the beginnings, defend democracy, and do not follow populists' promises! 

 Monks once brought Europe to cultural prosperity with their ora et labora. Nowadays, praying is not the order of the day; instead, it is disce et labora if the Western world wants to maintain its standard of living. 

A good education for young people is the only chance for Germany to survive the tough World competition. But we are far from it.

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