Former Baden-Württemberg Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) argues that democracy in Germany is gravely endangered. Speaking to Spiegel, Kretschmann stated that an increasing number of people are voting for extreme politicians and parties based on emotion rather than reasoned thought. He questioned, “If one thinks about it a little, one could arrive at the question: Has extremism ever done good or solved problems in history?” The Green politician added that the answer to this question is evidently “no.”
In response to the AfD’s success in recent state elections, Kretschmann dismissed the notion that governing normally would automatically cut the approval ratings of the AfD, referencing a comment made by Merz. He noted that for the past ten years, German society has been outraged by the AfD’s flagrant rule-breaking, its lack of historical awareness, its unrestrained polemics, and its dark intentions. He maintained that the decision to exclude the AfD and refuse cooperation was entirely justified.
However, the former minister also questioned whether this exclusion included a genuine attempt to engage in debate. “Have we discussed with them, have we collectively challenged them?” he asked. He concluded that the answer is no. Kretschmann stated, “We are in a crisis of argumentation.” He emphasized that this situation is particularly drastic because “in a democracy, ultimately, only arguments matter.” He expressed concern that the AfD might not be stopped, potentially allowing democracy to be damaged, at least temporarily.
