In a tense prelude to Germany’s rapidly approaching federal elections, thousands of protesters descended on the eastern city of Riesa this weekend, staging blockades and facing off against police as the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party held its campaign convention. The clashes, pitting anti-fascist demonstrators against the AfD and its supporters, underscore the high stakes and heated rhetoric surrounding the upcoming vote.
The AfD, which has surged to second place in recent polls with around 20% support, is seeking to capitalize on economic anxiety, anti-immigrant sentiment, and voter fatigue with the governing coalition. Meeting in the party’s Saxon stronghold to finalize its platform and candidate list, the AfD formally nominated co-leader Alice Weidel to serve as its chancellor candidate. Though Weidel praised supporters for “defying the left-wing mob” to reach the convention, she has little realistic prospect of leading the next government, as mainstream parties shun any cooperation with the AfD.
Instead, the conservative CDU/CSU bloc and its leader Friedrich Merz remain the frontrunners, polling near 30%. Incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his center-left SPD trail at 14-17%, weighed down by the acrimonious collapse of their “traffic light” coalition last fall. Scholz, who acknowledged “mistakes were made,” is seeking to rally supporters behind his “steadfast and prudent” leadership, especially on Ukraine policy, and attacked Merz for fiscally irresponsible “promises for the absolute top earners.”
The chancellor also rebuked President-elect Donald Trump’s recent comments about Greenland and territorial integrity, indirectly warning that “every state must keep to this principle, whether it is a small state or a very big and powerful one.” Merz retorted that such “public finger-pointing” is counterproductive.
Crypto Angle: Musk Wades Into Election Fray
Inserting a crypto-world twist into the campaign, Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk stirred controversy by holding a live X chat with Weidel and later tweeting that “only AfD can save Germany.” Critics accused the billionaire of inappropriate election interference, with one ex-EU tech official saying Musk was “lying like hell.” The flap highlights the growing intersection of digital assets, online speech, and real-world politics.
Just as blockchain technology disrupts and decentralizes traditional finance, figures like Musk are upending traditional media and political discourse. While the long-term impact remains to be seen, there’s no doubt that the worlds of crypto and politics are on an increasingly volatile collision course, in Germany and beyond. As the February 23 election looms, all eyes are on whether the electorate will back the status quo or be swayed by the siren songs of radical change, both on the streets and in the digital square.
