After the German state election results were released last night, the British press swiftly presented them as a protest against Angela Merkel’s liberal refugee policy. “Crushing verdict on open-door migration,” declared the Mail’s front page. “Voters send Merkel tough message over ‘open door’ refugee policy” was the Telegraph‘s verdict. “Merkel left wounded as Germans turn right” reported the Times.
But even the most cursory analysis discredits this interpretation. The right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which has led the opposition to Merkel’s refugee policy (under which Germany has accepted 1.1 million asylum seekers), did indeed surge, finishing second in Saxony-Anhalt with 24.2 per cent of the vote and third in Baden-Württemberg (15.1 per cent) and Rhineland-Palatinate (12.6 per cent) – a startling performance by a party founded only three years ago. But this was merely a feature of the elections.
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