Bundestag election: Gauck: AfD voters can be brought back

With a view to the federal election, former Federal President Joachim Gauck is convinced that AfD voters can be brought back. If you take out the Nazis, the majority of the AfD electorate consists of people “who are dissatisfied with the liberal system and who expect better solutions from an authoritarian leadership style and backward-looking ideas,” he told “Welt am Sonntag.” “But these people can be brought back if they realize that our democracy can solve the problems or at least significantly reduce them.”

Gauck advocated not always being afraid of populists. Instead, there needs to be a discourse about what liberal democracy has achieved so far – and not just where its shortcomings lie. “That justifiable pride in what this nation is capable of in a positive way – where is it?” This leads to people not believing that the model of liberal democracy has a future.

He highlighted Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) as a positive example of resisting this. His ability to “name tasks and demonstrate determination” is convincing to many people, said Gauck.

In polls for the federal election, the AfD recently got 18 to 22 percent. However, she lacks any government option because no party is willing to form a coalition with her. A new Bundestag will be elected on February 23rd.

Gauck warns of a break in the transatlantic alliance

Gauck has “mixed feelings” about the second term in office of the future US President Donald Trump, who will be sworn in on Monday. The potential impact on global stability is enormous, but difficult to estimate. If dissatisfaction is expressed publicly, it could jeopardize the relationship with Washington, he warned. “We must not initiate a breach of the transatlantic alliance, which is organized militarily in NATO.” AfD politicians are also expected at Trump’s inauguration, including party leader Tino Chrupalla.