This recent emergence of the far-right party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), has raised more than just a few eyebrows among immigrants, notably the Somali community residing in Germany. In an interview with the BBC, Peter Altmaier, the former minister of economics in Germany, noted that Germany desperately needs a government that is competent and effective and will adopt a sterner approach on issues.
Altmaier articulated that the success of AfD has stunned him and many Germans alike, a phenomenon which he claimed millions of people didn’t anticipate. This victory has raised some questions about the future of immigrants, particularly in relation to their treatment under AfD’s policies.
The mounting concerns are raising a red flag that the growth of the AfD influence might continue unchecked if those concerns remain unaddressed. Friedrich Merz’s pressure to tackle those issues is mounting. Somali and other immigrants in Germany will likely actually face increased legal and social hurdles over the next years of an unresolved situation.