Germany sustained a political earthquake in recent elections in the eastern states of Thuringia and Saxony. The parties of the national governing coalition sustained grievous losses—and a populist surge propelled the right-wing Alliance for Germany to record votes. Some sense ominous echoes of the rise to prominence of the Nazi Party in 1924.
Jürgen Resch is well suited to evaluate the historic changes underway. He leads the respected NGO, Deutsche-Umwelthilfe. He is a co-founder of the Euronatur Foundation, the Global Nature Fund, and the Lake Constance Foundation. Active worldwide, including throughout the European Union and the United States, he is a recipient of many recognitions, including the Haagen-Smit Award from the California Air Resources Board.
In discussion with James Strock, Resch illuminates the recent shock election results, including their implications for Germany and the broader European political landscape. He surveys the challenges faced by Germany's current federal government coalition, the rise of populism, and the decline of traditional political parties. Resch considers the consequences for environmental and energy policies in Germany, the impact of electric vehicles on the auto industry, and the future of renewable energy.
Jurgen Resch is the author of a well-received book detailing his effective activist approach to environmental and energy politics: Druck machen!: Wie Politik und Wirtschaft wissentlich Umwelt und Klima schädigen–-und was wir wirksam dagegen tun können.
Image Credit | Deutsche-Umwelthilfe.
Juergen Resch | Echoes of 1924? Understanding Germany's Shock Elections