German fascist form regional coalition with centre-right

[Risottia]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51384615

tl;dr , the neofascist AfD have joined forces with Merkel's CDU and the German liberals (Freiheitlichen) to oust the left-wing candidate in a German Land.

Bit worrying. Especially given how so far the democratic parties on the right had refused to form alliances with the AfD , avoiding to give them institutional legitimacy.
When the barrier separating antidemocratic forces from democratic forces fall, democracy is in danger, because you can expect fascists to exploit the workings of democracy to abolish it.

edit: amidst the outrage, the newly-elected Governor has resigned, to avoid the stigma of relying on the support of a fascist party. New elections coming for Thuringia.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51399445

[North German Realm]

I'm more worried about the fact they aligned themselves with the CDU (given how much the latter has invested in making sure the former is found guilty of breaking constitutional law by the virtue of existing and all) than the fact they're trying to stop a Left-wing party. That said, could the AfD (for all their faults) actually be called fascists?

[The Strangers Club]

I think this is wonderful, fellow fascists unite!

[The Greater Ohio Valley]

That said, could the AfD (for all their faults) actually be called fascists?

Yep.

[Cappuccina]

Imagine thinking AfD is fascist. Far-Right, definitely, but fascist? Let's not muddle terms here.

[Washington Resistance Army]

That said, could the AfD (for all their faults) actually be called fascists?

If they actually were they'd have been outlawed years ago. They're on the right wing certainly, far right even, but disliking liberalism and being against mass immigration doesn't make one a fascist.

[North German Realm]

That said, could the AfD (for all their faults) actually be called fascists?

Yep.

Why though. Surely the Germans, of all people, would just flat out refuse to let them be a party if they were actually fascist

[National Republic of Antagoria]

The problem here is that people like to call those they don't like or agree with fascists or nazis. What evidence do they have to back this up? Where are to fascist or national socialist policies that should be expected?

[Tigenia]

>neofascists

Just delete this whole thread and spread your brain outpourings somewhere else please
thank you.

[Cappuccina]

Tigenia, FYI you may want to edit your post..... trollnaming is a no-no here.

[Tigenia]

Tigenia, FYI you may want to edit your post..... trollnaming is a no-no here.

Right then, but still..

[Page]

Yep.

Why though. Surely the Germans, of all people, would just flat out refuse to let them be a party if they were actually fascist

Laws are public knowledge. They can be read, understood, and one can walk the line without stepping over it. That's what the NPD does. The AfD, in addition to walking the legal line, also walks the line of public opinion. But more often these days, the mask falls off and one of its politicians says what they really believe.

[The Greater Ohio Valley]

Yep.

Why though

Because as a party, they’re far right, highly nationalistic, Ethnocentic, Authoritarian and they’re skirting German law by saying their party is one thing and claiming to be something else (I.e. lying). All hallmarks of fascism, and their homegrown counterpart, Nazism.

Surely the Germans, of all people, would just flat out refuse to let them be a party if they were actually fascist

You could say the same thing about Americans and the Confederacy and Slavery, yet there is a disturbing amount of people who will defend and advocate for both in the same thought, same with Germans and Fascism and Nazism, a disturbing amount of folks still defend and advocate for their ideals. Only difference is that fascism and nazism is outlawed Germany so they gotta get creative.

They're on the right wing certainly, far right even, but disliking liberalism and being against mass immigration doesn't make one a fascist.

Being far right, being authoritarian, disliking freedoms and liberties and being xenophobic and racist against foreign brown folks, what does that make this particular party then :^]

You know, Wash, you’re really not doing a good job indicating that you aren’t fascist since you defend and go bat for their ideology more often than not. I take back anything I previously said and now am back into being suspicious of your beliefs.

[Tigenia]

Why though

Because as a party, they’re far right, highly nationalistic, Ethnocentic, Authoritarian and they’re skirting German law by saying their party is one thing and claiming to be something else (I.e. lying). All hallmarks of fascism, and their homegrown counterpart, Nazism.

Surely the Germans, of all people, would just flat out refuse to let them be a party if they were actually fascist

You could say the same thing about Americans and the Confederacy and Slavery, yet there is a disturbing amount of people who will defend and advocate for both in the same thought, same with Germans and Fascism and Nazism, a disturbing amount of folks still defend and advocate for their ideals. Only difference is that fascism and nazism is outlawed Germany so they gotta get creative.

They're on the right wing certainly, far right even, but disliking liberalism and being against mass immigration doesn't make one a fascist.

Being far right, being authoritarian, disliking freedoms and liberties and being xenophobic and racist against foreign brown folks, what does that make this particular party then :^]

You know, Wash, you’re really not doing a good job indicating that you aren’t fascist since you defend and go bat for their ideology more often than not. I take back anything I previously said and now am back into being suspicious of your beliefs.

"being authoritarian, disliking freedoms and liberties.."
How can they be authoritarian if they aren't the government? Last time I checked what "Authoritarianism" meant it said that its a form of government.
Also how are they disliking freedoms and liberties? Why would a party be authoritarian and disliking freedom and liberty if they are still fighting for votes?
If we go after your description of f*scism well then half of the worlds governments could be called fascist.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Being far right, being authoritarian, disliking freedoms and liberties and being xenophobic and racist against foreign brown folks, what does that make this particular party then :^]

National conservatives with a bit of a traditionalist bent.

[Tigenia]

Being far right, being authoritarian, disliking freedoms and liberties and being xenophobic and racist against foreign brown folks, what does that make this particular party then :^]

National conservatives with a bit of a traditionalist bent.

Ain't that the truth

[North German Realm]

Why though

Because as a party, they’re far right, highly nationalistic, Ethnocentic, Authoritarian and they’re skirting German law by saying their party is one thing and claiming to be something else (I.e. lying). All hallmarks of fascism, and their homegrown counterpart, Nazism.

Surely the Germans, of all people, would just flat out refuse to let them be a party if they were actually fascist

You could say the same thing about Americans and the Confederacy and Slavery, yet there is a disturbing amount of people who will defend and advocate for both in the same thought, same with Germans and Fascism and Nazism, a disturbing amount of folks still defend and advocate for their ideals. Only difference is that fascism and nazism is outlawed Germany so they gotta get creative.

1- That doesn't make them "fascist". Literally every iteration of the German State until 1950 was "far right" by modern standards, highly nationalistic, ethnocentrist and authoritarian. These aren't "Hallmarks" of fascism any more than welfare and labor unions are a hallmark of communism.

And really, you couldn't say the same about the US. As you said, the US doesn't legislate against being pro-confederacy. The Germans do. You can expect some politician in the US to be pro-confederacy -hell, 9 out of every 10 Republican in the modern age are, as were 9 out of every 10 before the Platform switch. You can even expect some minor politician to unironically wave the confederate flag. People won't get away with that kind of thing in Germany -not on a public nor on a political stage.

[The Greater Ohio Valley]

Being far right, being authoritarian, disliking freedoms and liberties and being xenophobic and racist against foreign brown folks, what does that make this particular party then :^]

National conservatives with a bit of a traditionalist bent.

So modern fascism then, got it.

[Washington Resistance Army]

National conservatives with a bit of a traditionalist bent.

So modern fascism then, got it.

Tbqh you seem like one of the types who thinks anything to the right of social democracy is national socialism reborn. Your idea of fascism is so broad it's meaningless as a descriptor.

[Tigenia]

National conservatives with a bit of a traditionalist bent.

So modern fascism then, got it.

Could it be that everything even slightly to the right off the center is fascism for you?

[The Greater Ohio Valley]

"being authoritarian, disliking freedoms and liberties.."
How can they be authoritarian if they aren't the government? Last time I checked what "Authoritarianism" meant it said that its a form of government.

One doesn’t need to be a government in order to support an authoritarian form of government.

Also how are they disliking freedoms and liberties?

If you aren’t ethnically German, White, Christian or Straight then you are undeserving of rights and equal protection of the law according to their party platform.

Why would a party be authoritarian and disliking freedom and liberty if they are still fighting for votes?

Because that’s the only way they can legally come to power in the nation they exist within.

If we go after your description of f*scism well then half of the worlds governments could be called fascist.

If they’re far-right, highly nationalistic, ethnocentric and authoritarian then yep.

[North German Realm]

National conservatives with a bit of a traditionalist bent.

So modern fascism then, got it.

Whether or not AfD is fascist, I'm not sure you actually know what fascism really is tbh.

[Tigenia]

"being authoritarian, disliking freedoms and liberties.."
How can they be authoritarian if they aren't the government? Last time I checked what "Authoritarianism" meant it said that its a form of government.

One doesn’t need to be a government in order to support an authoritarian form of government.

Also how are they disliking freedoms and liberties?

If you aren’t ethnically German, White, Christian or Straight then you are undeserving of rights and equal protection of the law according to their party platform.

Why would a party be authoritarian and disliking freedom and liberty if they are still fighting for votes?

Because that’s the only way they can legally come to power in the nation they exist within.

If we go after your description of f*scism well then half of the worlds governments could be called fascist.

If they’re far-right, highly nationalistic, ethnocentric and authoritarian then yep.

Well not to be offensive but your knowledge of Right wing ideologies, more specifically fascism, and your knowledge of the AfD in general seems to be very shallow.

[Albennia]

disliking liberalism

lol no, half the AfD is liberal. and i'm pretty confident the other half is just pretending not to be to win over the east.

Tigenia, FYI you may want to edit your post..... trollnaming is a no-no here.

Right then, but still..

but?

[Albennia]

also thanks OP i thought we were getting some juicy NPD drama but no