One of the main questions that arose after the recent elections in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburgthree local election contests that for the first time so strongly occupied the European and international press, is this simple: why in eastern Germany do so many people vote for the far-right Alternative for Germany or the left-populist Sarah Wagenknecht Alliance?

A glimpse of what is happening today in East Germany was recently given by the report of the representative of the German government, Carsten Schneider, on the eastern states. For the second time after 2022, Schneider, originally from Thuringia, put the social and economic development in N. Germany under the microscope together with a team of experts. 34 years after German reunification on October 3, 1990, the conclusion reached by the Schneider report is: “The Germany it is free, united and at the same time imperfect”.

As pointed out by Carsten Snyderthe country has changed a lot from 1990 to today, both East and West Germany. As for democracy as a state, yes it has been consolidated in both Germanys, but there is dissatisfaction with politics and politicians. At the same time, to this day, 35 years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, there continues to be an economic gap between western and eastern states.

However, the fact is that the dynamics of the economy in Germany is overall positive and the majority of citizens now consider their economic situation to be good. However, citizens in the eastern states feel that central politics does not understand them and trust democratic institutions less than their fellow citizens in the western states.

“Fear of Change”

An illustrative example is offered by the small town of Lüben in Brandenburg and what local priest Martin Lindke says. “I notice that people are afraid of change and that they are open to opinions and parties that promise that things can continue as they were in the past.” Speaking to DW, he notes that five years ago it was “cool” to vote for the Greens because of what they said about climate protection. Now everything revolves around immigration, which changes many things.

Regarding the political developments in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg, Carsten Schneider declares himself “stunned, disappointed and worried”. As he points out in the report, in all five states of In Germany, wages continue to be lower and citizens are not represented by the elites, they do not have the same access to business, science, justice.

However, it must be emphasized that investments are being made, unemployment is low and the infrastructure is sometimes better than in the western states. As the head of the Institute of German Economy, which is close to employers, observes, Michael Hüter, the “impressive growth” of the of Germany after 1990 is not necessarily equated with economic success. Uncertainty and public concern remain, which is turning many to the far-right AfD.

Wind in favor of the AfD in western Germany as well

Also of interest is the fact that according to Carsten Schneider the tendency towards Far right is not limited to only if. Germany. The AfD is also making significant gains in western states, as shown by the state elections in Bavaria and Hesse. According to his report in particular in In Germany, many citizens consider that fundamental political freedoms, such as freedom of expression, are not sufficiently exercised, or consider that there is no freedom of the press.

Another important finding of the report is that there is still no collective “sense of unity” across Germany. The feeling of social cohesion is less developed in eastern than in western Germany. This explains the stronger tendency for protest, indignation and manifestation of citizens’ discontent in the eastern states, according to an analysis by Detlef Polak, a sociologist of religion in the FAZ newspaper.

A recent history analysis is also interesting Ilko-Sasha Kovalchukwho specializes in the study of the German Democratic Republic and the process of German Reunification. “I believe that two-thirds of the Germans in the eastern states have a problem with democracy and freedom,” he said in an interview, causing reactions. However, he clarifies that the very concepts of democracy and freedom are not unknown to the citizens of Germany, but their consequences. “Many have not yet understood that we live in a society of compromise and not a society of consent,” he observes.

Shortly before the publication of the Snyder report, Chancellor Olaf Solz in his video wanted to appear unifying. Criticizing the politics of the extremes, he wanted to emphasize the majority “of the political center” which is “much, much larger”. And the government representative for eastern states is however calling for the strengthening of the “quiet center” that German society needs, instead of the extremes.

Editor: Dimitra Kyranoudis