Page 34 - bne_March 2025_20250304

34 I Central Europe bne March 2025
Relief in Emerging Europe at AfD’s election defeat, but concern over party's gains
bne IntelliNews
Mainstream politicians across Central and Southeast Europe have expressed relief at the outcome of Germany's general election, which saw the far-right Alternative
for Germany (AfD) make gains but ultimately fall short of securing victory.
A win for the AfD would have sent shockwaves across Europe, placing a nationalist and eurosceptic force at the heart of the EU at a time when the return of Donald Trump to the White House is already reshaping the global order.
Ahead of Germany’s election there had been fears that a victorious AfD would bring about similar upheavals in the EU’s largest economy – not least
www.bne.eu
through its stated aims of leaving both Nato and the eurozone.
On the economic front, Germany is a critical partner of countries across the CEE/SEE region, with industries such as automotive components heavily reliant on exports to Germany. Any slowdown in the German economy has direct repercussions for the region.
But it was the political implications of the German election that were seen as particularly concerning for states on the Nato Eastern flank, many of them sharing borders with Russia or Ukraine.
There are those in the region who would no doubt have welcomed an AfD victory. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor
Orban, for example, recently hosted AfD leader Alice Weidel in Budapest, and described the controversial politician as “the future of Germany”.
Victory for stability
On the other hand, Romanian politicians, in particular, welcomed the victory of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), viewing Germany as a crucial anchor of
stability in the Western alliance. The German election outcome also carries implications for Romania's own political landscape. The country is preparing for a crucial presidential election in May, with far-right, pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu leading the race. Georgescu topped the first round of
the 2024 presidential election, which