Franziska Giffey (SPD), Senator for Economic Affairs and state chairwoman, speaks at the state party conference of the SPD Berlin Photo: dpa-Bildfunk
From BZ/dpa
Berlin’s SPD state chairwoman and Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey has expressed concern about the political mood in Germany.
More and more people in Germany shared right-wing extremist views and more and more turned away from the democratic parties, said Giffey on Saturday at the SPD state party conference in Lichtenberg. “We have to take this seriously,” said the SPD politician. “No party is allowed to duck out of this, especially not us as the SPD!”
Giffey pointed to the results of the study “The Distant Middle” published on Thursday by the SPD-affiliated Friedrich Ebert Foundation. According to this, one in twelve adults has a right-wing extremist worldview. At 8.3 percent, the proportion has increased significantly compared to the previous years’ level of just under 2 to 3 percent, according to the study.
It is important to do something to counteract those who profit from fear – through decisive action in the federal government just as in the state of Berlin, said Giffey. Nobody can do that better than the SPD.
Like her co-country chairman Raed Saleh before her, Giffey pointed out the challenge of making climate change socially just.
“It is clear to us that Berlin must not only become climate neutral, but also remain affordable,” said Giffey. To achieve this, it is important to combine climate protection and economic growth. “Berlin has excellent conditions for this.”