a minute agoGermany's elections: How do those of foreign origin vote?
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)In early parliamentary elections in Germany, about 7 million voters have foreign origin. Who would they vote on Sunday is unknown, but there are some preferences. In Germany's early parliamentary elections Sunday, about 60 million people are heading to the ballot boxes. In recent years the number of those who [...]
In Germany's early parliamentary elections Sunday, about 60 million people are heading to the ballot boxes. In recent years the number of those with migration and fair voting backgrounds has also increased. About 7 million voters have foreign origin. Who would they vote on Sunday? Due to Germany's economic shocks in the past two years, one thing is known: whether they're Germans “new” or Germans from generation to generation, Germany's troubles today affect them all the same: Economic growth, inflation and high energy prices, food and rent, domestic security, prospects for the future.
Recent German Centre for Migration and Integration Studies ( DeZIM) finds that as the Germans without migration background, even those with foreign roots share similar concerns. The main problem remains the economy and inflation. But there's a difference between Germans, background people migration are more often feared that they become victims of violence. On the other hand, they are more concerned than Germans rooted in financial issues, on topics such as pensions or residences. The conflict in the Middle East also plays a role in this group's concerns, with 43% of this concern greater than the Germans without migration background. The aspect found in the study is that German citizens with the background of migration go more rarely towards the ballot boxes than German people without foreign roots.
Which party is the favorite?
The wording of migrants should be specified because this foreign-rooted group of Germans is quite varied. Nearly every party could attract the new Germans. DeSIA Study Fellow Dr. Jannes Jacobsen points out that the “people with migration background are not a homogen group. Their election preferences extend to the entire party spectrum. Reports, that the immigrant vote may decide on the success of certain parties, are not confirmed in our study.” However, even migrants have certain preferences.
According to German Centre for Migration and Integration Studies ( DeZIM) The Social Democrat Party, the SPD, is at the forefront of this group's preferences. According to the study, about 76% of respondents would give the vote for the SPD. Then the CDU and CSU are ranked with about 71%. For the Green would give about 57% of voters with migration background. For liberals, FDP, 53%. The AfD party reaches 21% of the preference, the lowest among the main German parties.
The DeZIM centre has analysed the data of 2689 Germans eligible for voting, over a period from December 2023 to March 2024. According to them traditionally the German-Turkish vote for the SPD, it is also related to their “political socialisation”, the DeZIM notes. On the other hand, the German-Turkish are among those citizens with migration background, who go less to vote. First generation of Turkish-born Germans came as “Gastarbeiter” in Germany in the 1950s. They have often been union members.
Source Country Differences
The study finds differences within the group of Germans with migration background, if areas from them were to be considered. For example, with voters, who do not have their roots in EU countries, they find less support for the Turkey compared to the Germans without migration background. Interestingly, it is also the findings, that Mayta and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance are more popular with many minority groups with migration background than in German voters without this background. And with German citizens rooted in EU countries, in the Middle East, North Africa or Turkey, AfD is not the favourite party. AfD is the favorite party in the Russian-Germans.
Increasing German Party Interest
The rise in foreign-born electorate has long awakened the interest of German parties. Although this is not the single electorate, German parties want to attract young Germans. Party activists often directly seek dialogue with citizens of foreign origin, their associations, mosques or other activities. Parties have also established their networks to contact citizens with migration background. Sometimes they also use the language of migrants to convince them of their vote.
The main message is: You're part of Germany. Because many citizens of foreign origin, although German, feel excluded. Among them are young people born here. There is a large group of young people who are given a sense of not fully belong to Germany because of experiences of discrimination and exclusion. This feeling leads to injuries and these injuries can cause young people to leave politics and not vote at all”, says Yunus Ulusoy of the Centre for Turkish Studies and Integration ( ZfTI) in Essen.
Paradoxically, however, the AfD that uses stimulating language against migrants requires their vote, not without success. According to the Turkish Community's co-director in Germany (TGD), Aslihan Yesilkaya-Yurtby, this party already has support among Germans of Turkish origin. Unfortunately, there are also citizens of Turkish origin who sympathise with AfD”, Yesilkaya-Yurtby told the AfP news agency recently. According to her, the AfD is trying to attract young men of Turkish origin, especially on TikTok platform. / DW
