While German parties in distress over government instability, young activists are mobilizing around their political beliefs. One woman, Pauline, told DW that rather than allowing the far right to seize this political moment, they must raise their voices to drive real change for Germany.
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00:00Pauline is on her way to see her friends.
00:02Now, after the breakdown of Germany's coalition of social democrats, business-friendly free
00:07democrats and greens, she is still coming to terms with the news.
00:11It was a totally crazy day.
00:16After waking up in the morning and thinking that after Trump was elected, nothing crazier
00:20could happen today, then the German government collapses in the evening.
00:24Her reaction?
00:25Political activism.
00:26She fears that the far-right will profit from the coalition's breakdown and makes her voice
00:30heard in a protest against right-wing extremism.
00:33The far-right AFD are poised to grow their vote share in upcoming elections.
00:37They are targeting young voters with success.
00:40In recent months, we have seen that the political debate is almost completely dominated by far-right
00:46issues.
00:47And that's exactly what far-right parties ultimately benefit from.
00:51Young people worry that instability inside Germany could make it harder for the country
00:55to handle global insecurities.
00:57Fortunately, I grew up in a very peaceful time for the most part.
01:02But since the war in Ukraine and Corona, that peaceful period is over.
01:10And now with Trump back in government, I can imagine that something could happen relatively
01:14quickly that could also affect us.
01:15I'm definitely afraid.
01:19But for some, the breakup of the unpopular coalition also offers a chance for change.
01:24The Young Greens are in campaign mode and now hope to bring the climate crisis back
01:28up the political agenda.
01:30There is now hope that there will be good policies in Germany again.
01:34Policies that create a fair life, that protect the planet.
01:36And that concerns us young people the most.
01:40Germany's young free Democrats have a different focus.
01:44I hope that the next government just takes care of the economy.
01:49We need to ease the burden on citizens and companies because they just want to do their
01:53job and otherwise be left in peace.
01:58But signs are the parties who formed the coalition face an uphill battle.
02:02Poles predict that they won't fare well in the coming elections, with the CDU set to
02:07lead the next government.
02:09In the coming months, Pauline hopes to make sure young voices are heard.
02:13If there really are early elections now, I think a political window will open in which
02:19a lot is possible very, very quickly.
02:25For young people of various political persuasions, a lack of clarity about Germany's future
02:30doesn't mean a lack of hope.
02:32Now they all have the chance to speak up for their priorities.