Many Germans with a migration background vote for CDU/CSU and AfD.
1. CDU (ChristlichDemokratische Union)
- Profile: Center‑right Christian‑democratic conservatives emphasizing prosperity, security, and traditional values.
- Quote: “Für ein Land, auf das wir wieder stolz sein können.” (CDU 2025 slogan: For a country we can be proud of again.)
- Additional: Friedrich Merz underscores this with his campaign motto #WiederNachVorne — “forward again” — promising stability and economic growth after “years of uncertainty.”
2. SPD (Social Democratic Party)
- Profile: Center‑left, committed to social justice, workers’ rights, and welfare‑state principles.
- Quote: “Mehr für dich. Besser für Deutschland.” (2025 slogan: More for you. Better for Germany.)
- Additional:
3. FDP (Free Democrats, Die Liberalen)
- Profile: Pro‑business, liberal‑economic; champions of individual freedom, lower taxes, less bureaucracy.
- Quote: “Bürokratie runter. Netto rauf.” (Reduce red tape. Raise net income.)
- Additional: The FDP, rooted in 1970s liberalism, opposes expansive state control and champions civil liberties.
4. Bündnis 90/Die Grünen (The Greens)
- Profile: Environmentalists and progressives centered on ecology, social liberalism, and human-rights policies.
- Quote: “Zuversicht.” (2025 slogan: Confidence.)
- Additional:
5. Die Linke (The Left)
- Profile: Democratic‑socialist, anti‑austerity, pro‑worker, strongly pro‑EU social spending.
- Quote: “Alle wollen regieren. Wir wollen verändern.” (2025 slogan: Everyone wants to govern. We want to change.)
- Additional Line: Die Linke, formed from East Germany’s PDS and West dissenters, pushes for public-sector investment and wealth redistribution.
6. Alternative für Deutschland (AfD)
- Profile: Right‑wing populist, anti‑immigration, nationalist, Eurosceptic, climate‑change denial.
- Quote (campaign): “Deutschland. Aber normal.” (Germany. But normal.) (2021), followed by “Zeit für Deutschland.” (Time for Germany.) in 2025
- Additional: German intelligence classified AfD as “right‑wing extremist” in May 2025—highlighting its shift from eurosceptic newcomers to a more radical national‑conservative movement .
7. CSU (Christian Social Union)
- Profile: Bavaria’s regional conservative sister party to CDU—shares core Christian‑democratic values, more socially traditional and regional.
- Quote: “Damit Bayern in Deutschland stark bleibt.” (So that Bavaria remains strong within Germany.)
- Additional Line: CSU often takes a harder stance on immigration and law‑and‑order than its federal CDU partner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which party is considered conservative in Germany?
The CDU (with its Bavarian sibling CSU) represents the traditional conservative camp: pro (car and beer) business, "cautious" on migration, and big on “stability.” Think Kohl and Merkel. Think suit-and-tie politics.
What’s the difference between CDU and CSU?
The CSU exists only in Bavaria and takes harder positions on identity and immigration. Nationally, they vote together in parliament. Their chieftain Markus Söder is famous for posting sausage porn on Instagram.
Is the AfD really far-right?
Yep. And it’s not just my opinion. Germany’s own domestic intelligence agency (BND) monitors parts of the AfD for extremist tendencies.
Are the Greens just about climate?
Nope. They’re a full-spectrum party now, running ministries and negotiating foreign policy. But their DNA is - at least officially - ecological and pacifist, even if governing has made them more pragmatic. They waved through Hartz IV (today's Bürgergeld) and are not too opposed to delivering weapons into war zones. Just saying.
Is the SPD still a workers’ party?
Voters see them as centrist administrators, not leftist reformers. Still, they remain pro-labor, pro-welfare, and EU-friendly. Their former head Gerhard Schröder, considers himself Putin's best buddy and even went to visit him to convince him to stop the war in Ukraine. Enough said.
Are Die Linke Communists?
They are the only party officially standing up against billionaires.
Why does Germany have so many parties?
The mixed-member proportional system gives smaller voices a chance—if they pass the 5% threshold. Coalition governments are the norm.
Where does the FDP actually stand?
Pro-business, anti-regulation, loves the word “freedom.” They missed entry in the Bundestag by a fraction of a percent. Your dentist probably votes FDP.
Who should I vote for?
Anyone right of the SPD is not your friend. The AfD makes no secret out of their disdain for you. And yet there's migrants that would vote for them.
- https://www.bmi.gv.at/104/Wissenschaft_und_Forschung/SIAK-Journal/SIAK-Journal-Ausgaben/Jahrgang_2024/files/Pfahl_Traughber_3_2024.pdf
- https://www.nf-farn.de/glossar-extremismus
- https://verfassungsblog.de/das-ende-des-hufeisens/
- https://jusos.de/argumente/die-geschichte-vom-hufeisen-warum-der-extremismusbegriff-ueberholt-ist/
- https://www.bpb.de/themen/rechtsextremismus/dossier-rechtsextremismus/200099/kritische-anmerkungen-zur-verwendung-des-extremismuskonzepts-in-den-sozialwissenschaften/
- https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Extremismus-links-ist-nicht-gleich-rechts-article21584203.html
