AfD in the Bavarian Forest: Why the voters break with politics

AfD in the Bavarian Forest: Why the voters break with politics

The Bavarian region of the Bavarian Forest is often described as a particularly unusual place within the Free State. Anyone who arrives from Munich has to prepare for a trip of three to five hours by public transport, which not only bridges the physical distance, but also cultural differences. The regional identity is reflected in a special community center, supported by the Free State and the EU, which brings both challenges and a strong community. At an event in this community center, a guest expressed his displeasure with the cost of the intercom and criticized state expenditure. Such topics, coupled with dissatisfaction with local politics, could have a significant impact on the political climate in the region.

An interesting aspect is the opinion of an uned -up farmer who has observed that fertilizers appear on his farm earlier and earlier a year. This triggers concern with him, while at the same time appreciating the atmospheric silence of the Bavarian Forest, which stimulates him and many others to think creatively and to develop a deep connection to home.

AfD: A phenomenon in the Bavarian Forest

The alternative for Germany (AfD) has positioned itself in this region. The European elections and other elections show a trend that raises the AfD to one of the second strongest political forces in Bavaria - it received 19 percent of the vote in the last election. In the district of Regen in particular, the response with the AfD district chairman Johann Müller, who won 23 percent of the vote, was extremely positive. Political scientist Straßner sees the successful identification of voters with the locally rooted politicians as a key factor for the popularity of the AfD in this region.

The votes for the AfD are particularly most important in rural areas, while urban voters often chose more liberal. This becomes particularly clear when you look at the different election results: While the AfD in Munich receives a maximum of less than ten percent of the vote, it runs in the Deggendorf constituency with 29.2 percent and in the constituency of Schwandorf with 28.2 percent.

local voices and topics

The reasons for the success of the AfD are complex. Topics such as the heating law and the firewood debate cause resentment in the region. In Lower Bavaria, around 17 percent of households use wood heating, very deviating from the nationwide average of only 4.2 percent. In view of the tense discussions about mobility, in which cargo bike bicycles in particular are perceived as irrelevant, the affinity for the AfD is understandable. Even if the crime quota in Lower Bavaria is the lowest in Bavaria, fears before a loss of wealth and changes due to migration seem to have a strong influence on the election results.

The perception of migrants and the supposedly open limits are often discussed as "state failure". The lack of personal contact with immigrants leads to reservations that further influence the political attitude of voters. In addition, the proportion of young men in this region is significant, which may be correlated with the increase in AfD voters.

The insight into the regional dynamics shows how important a good knack in politics is, especially in an area with such strong voices for the AfD. Here, where the silence of the forest arouses creative thoughts, the political actors have to find answers to the pressing questions of people in order not to lose contact with the base.