AfD gains in eastern Germany fuel anxiety among Syrian refugees about belonging
Syrian refugees in Rostock say they feel less welcome as the far-right Alternative for Germany surges in eastern German elections, reporting more anti-immigrant abuse.
After escaping the Syrian civil war, Shahd Najeeb and her husband Mahmoud Hmouech settled in Rostock, where they work in schools and a barber shop while raising two young children. Recent opinion polls indicate that the far-right Alternative for Germany is set to become the leading party in the upcoming Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania election, following a victory in Saxony-Anhalt. The couple and other migrants interviewed in Rostock and Schwerin report a noticeable increase in anti-immigrant remarks, including an elderly man shouting that Germany is only for Germans and a neighbor dumping foul-smelling water on a family member.
AfD candidate Leif-Erik Holm argues that only illegal residents should be deported, while Social Democrat premier Manuela Schwesig accuses the party of creating widespread fear. Economists warn that the region's ageing population and low birth rates make migrant workers essential, so rising hostility could undermine the local labour market.
Why it matters
Rising far-right sentiment threatens migrant integration and the economic stability of eastern Germany.
How this story developed
- Sep 14 Ursula von der Leyen outlines EU agenda in Strasbourg State of the Union address
- Sep 16 The speech is expected to address AI, climate change, summer wildfires, Russia's war in Ukraine, Middle‑East conflicts, international trade tensions, and online child protection, and she will present a draft law to limit
- Sep 16 Czarnek’s proposal to withdraw Poland from the EU ETS was filed in the Sejm.
- Sep 17 The federal government is exploring a direct reduction of fuel prices by as much as 25 cents per litre. In a televised discussion, Chancellor Merz and Finance Minister Klingbeil consulted the ministers-presidents of Rheinland-Pfalz and Niedersachsen, but the talks did not produce a final plan. Options on the table include a price-cap model and direct cash payments to consumers, while a proposed profit-tax on fuel companies was dismissed. The debate continues as the government seeks a timely solution.
- Sep 19 A consensus on the fuel‑tax rebate was reached, moving the plan from discussion to scheduled implementation.
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