Photo/Illutration Alice Weidel, co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), speaks during the election party at the party's headquarters in Berlin on Feb. 23. (DPA via AP, Pool)

For its anti-Nazi national policy, Germany has been considered the “last bastion” against Europe’s unmistakable move to the right.

But in what may be likened to a mega-earthquake for its impact, the Feb. 23 snap election elevated the far-right, anti-immigrant/refugee Alternative for Germany (AfD) to the second largest political party.

Coalition talks will proceed in the coming days, centered around the leading center-right group of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU).

We hope the new administration will confront the fundamental cause of the right-wing surge and commit to beating back the growing divisiveness and xenophobia around Europe as well as the rest of the world.

The crushing defeat suffered by the center-left Social Democratic Party of Chancellor Olaf Scholz came against the backdrop of a series of violent incidents that caused popular apprehension about refugees and immigrants to grow.

There also was the economic slowdown from the skyrocketing energy prices triggered by the war in Ukraine, not to mention the unclosed gap between the former East Germany and West Germany even 35 years after the reunification.

AfD’s anti-immigration and “Germany first” assertions are simple and straightforward enough to appeal readily to people who have become increasingly dissatisfied with the established political parties.

A similar pattern is in evidence in Italy and Austria, where the right has been growing in influence of late.

However, there are AfD members who publicly trivialize Nazi crimes. The party has been placed under surveillance by a German intelligence agency as a “radical group.” And in the European Parliament, AfD has been expelled from the rightist parliamentary group, of which the National Rally of France is a member.

AfD is also opposed to aiding Ukraine and sanctioning Russia.

It was no surprise that Friedrich Merz, the CDU leader and the most likely next chancellor, has rejected AfD as a potential coalition partner.

In the latest election, Merz advocated a strict immigration policy, in a clear departure from the immigrant-friendly and moderate liberal policy of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was a fellow CDU member.

Merz obviously needs to deal with the public’s discontent and anxiety. But we hope he will stand firm against racist xenophobia and maintain his basic stance of respecting human rights.

One cause for concern is the presence, within the U.S. administration of Donald Trump, of vocal supporters whose thinking is similar to AfD’s.

Multi-billionaire Elon Musk, now a close Trump aide, has repeatedly expressed support, and Vice President JD Vance is also conciliatory.

As one of the world’s top economic powers, Germany bears the heavy responsibility of supporting the “camp” that values freedom and democracy. We want the new leadership to urge the Trump administration to continue aiding Ukraine and collaborating with Europe.

If many countries become obsessed with the “our country first” mentality, that will not only make global conflicts and poverty infinitely harder to resolve, but will also further aggravate the already dire situation.

We expect Germany’s new administration to assert its leadership in advancing the sort of international cooperation that will break the vicious cycle.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 26