Anne Rabe: “Voting for AfD is a moral crime against democracy”
The writer Anne Rabe believes that the rise of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is primarily due to a widespread attack on moral principles. In a press interview, she warned that this trend directly threatens German society and liberal democracy.
Rabea explains that the concept of ethics has become, in the eyes of many, a forbidden or outdated word, and is sometimes used as an accusation against what are called "the do-gooders." For her, ethics simply means recognizing the equality of all humans in value and dignity, which is the idea that unified the Western world and made it successful. However, she sees that authoritarian forces – especially from the right – are currently seeking to undermine this foundation, considering that the "law of the jungle" is the only law that should prevail.
Rabe criticizes the acceptance by some German politicians of indirect cooperation with the AfD party, such as Friedrich Merz's attempt to gain votes from this party. She believes that such steps break the historical consensus on rejecting dealings with the far right, which weakens democracy and opens the door to further political violence.
In her view, the rise of the AfD also reflects a crisis of trust within German society, which has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war in Ukraine, making discussions among friends and families more difficult. She emphasizes that the authoritarian right is not seeking dialogue or compromise, but rather dominance, which is why maintaining moral boundaries becomes more urgent.
Rabe sees voting for the AfD party as an unethical act, as it undermines the principle of equality and threatens the foundations of the democratic system. She strongly criticizes the consideration of electing this party as merely a 'protest vote', arguing that voters are fully aware of who they are voting for. In contrast, she calls for greater citizen engagement in political parties and civil organizations, and for democrats to maintain their unity to confront the rise of right-wing extremism, warning that the absence of public spaces for dialogue and diversity makes it easier for the right to normalize extremism.