The rising popularity of Germany's anti-immigrant party AfD has sparked fears among foreigners living in the country. With one in four Germans having foreign roots, what does this far-right gain mean for the nation's multicultural fabric? Despite the refusal of mainstream parties to cooperate with the party, the AfD's victory raises questions about Germany's economic future and diverse society.
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00:00A political bombshell.
00:02That's how some have described the massive gains of Germany's far-right
00:07Alternative for Germany party or AFD in two state elections.
00:12Since then, the mood in Germany has been rather depressed and subdued.
00:19The governing coalition has been punished.
00:22It is a vote against the chancellor.
00:25The AFD is going to ruin this country.
00:28It's not going to work.
00:30I don't know what will become of Germany.
00:33The fact that the AFD has done so well, especially in rural areas, is concerning.
00:39But just how bad is the situation really?
00:42And should foreigners in Germany truly be worried?
00:45Welcome to the flip side.
00:49You really don't have to be a historian to know that Germany has a rather dark
00:53past involving right-wing extremism.
00:56But how safe is the country?
00:58And is its democracy stable over 90 years since the Nazi ascent to power in 1933?
01:04In November last year, there was a meeting of major and important
01:11racist people of fascists from parts of Germany, different parts of Germany,
01:18even from Austria, who met up and were making plans to
01:23remigrate, that was their word, remigrate everyone who is having
01:28migration or international family history.
01:30So currently, over a quarter of Germany's 84 million people,
01:34including myself, have a foreign background.
01:38So do we all need to start packing our bags and leave this country amid this worrying growth
01:43in far-right support?
01:44If we notice that the AFD is getting more power, definitely we will
01:49think about, like, choosing a different country.
01:52I mean, how long do people have to live in this country to be a part of the country?
01:58And what do people with a foreign background think about the rise of the AFD?
02:02I'm really afraid and it's a kind of threat to our lives as well.
02:08And I always think of my children when something like this happens.
02:14They grew up here and I don't know, it's hard to explain.
02:18Look, the good news in all of this is that all other political parties have
02:23categorically rejected the idea of entering a coalition with the far-right party.
02:30I think it's basically right not to work with them.
02:33The fact that Germany's democracy has multiple safeguards against fascism and Nazism,
02:39as well as robust independent democratic institutions,
02:42may well be the silver lining we all need to focus on right now.
02:47And regarding the issue of foreigners specifically,
02:50the fact that Germany is in dire need of foreign-skilled workers remains,
02:55whether the AFD and its supporters like it or not.
02:58Different people from different countries will not feel safe to come over here,
03:03to work here, to be disrespected.
03:06And that is the flip side.