Patrick Poppel, expert at the Center for Geostrategic Studies (Belgrade).
A few days ago there was a political scandal in the German state of Saxony, which could be a possible example for future developments in German politics.
After the first talks between the CDU, BSW and SPD in Saxony, it looked as if the three parties could find a way to form a common government despite major differences in content.
They agreed to exploratory talks and met for the first time. But after parts of the BSW parliamentary group in the regional parliament of Saxony approved a motion from the AFD, the talks were interrupted again. For the parties in the system, it was inconceivable that MPs from a very left-wing party would vote together with MPs from a party that is repeatedly described as “right-wing extremist” by the German media.
Everyone involved hopes that this will remain an isolated case. However, this individual case must be seen against the reality that in Europe, and especially in Germany and Austria, we have such a strong division in society that the forces to the left and right of the center are becoming ever stronger.
There is a lot that separates these political forces ideologically. But these parties also have to make practical decisions. The politicians of these parties are often closer to practical politics than the representatives of the old parties.
In future this could lead to right-wing and left-wing MPs being able to vote together, particularly at the level of regional politics. What strongly connects the right and left is that they are protest movements against the course of the so-called political center.
But what potential do the extreme left forces actually have? In the last elections in East Germany, in addition to the AFD, the left-wing party BSW also received many votes. In Austria, the Communist Party is well established in some regions.
The mayor of Austria's second largest city, Graz, is also a member of the Communist Party. But above all, the rise of the BSW in the regions of eastern Germany has great potential. Critics say that these left-wing movements will only have regional successes, but the same was said years ago about the AFD, which is now a serious force in the German Bundestag.
The fact is that in almost all European countries there is an alliance of the old parties of the political center against the opposition's possible participation in government. The best example of this is the current political situation in Austria, where even the Federal President is preventing the FPÖ (Freedom Party), as a stronger force, from having a chance of getting into government after the election.
This alliance of the system's parties is not a conspiracy theory, but can be proven through the actions of individual political actors. Above all, the right-wing opposition forces were informed before the day of the election that there would be no partners for a possible coalition. But here we are only talking about the system parties of the so-called political center.
Clearly, a possible coalition between AFD and BSW or between FPÖ and KPÖ is currently not conceivable or realistic. But the political landscape in Germany and Austria is currently in a process of change. At least joint votes on issues at a regional political level could mark the beginning of possible cooperation between the right and the left in the future.
The socio-economic decline in Europe will make the left forces stronger. And the absurd migration policy both at the state level and at the level of the European Union will continue to bring a lot of votes to the right-wing parties.
As we see from the example of Austria, it does not matter how many votes an opposition party receives if it cannot find a partner for a coalition. It needs a partner and perhaps in future this partner can be found on the left edge of the political spectrum.
Due to the future crises and challenges that Europe will face, it is quite possible that the right and left forces could also find common topics to be discussed. There will be problems in politics for which the old parties will not find solutions.
There are already many politicians in the ranks of the left-wing forces in Germany and Austria who understand the statements and activities of the right-wing parties. Even if they have different opinions, they accept them as serious political figures.
This political climate did not exist in this form before. The system will of course do everything to prevent possible cooperation between these forces. But it is possible that those in charge of the right, as well as the left, opposition will make decisions that could actually endanger the rule of the old parties.
