Numerous inexperienced voters view the Greens as a potential hazard.
Study conductors are seldom taken aback by political opinion polls and analyses. However, a recent examination focusing on youth perceptions has succeeded in catching them off guard. As per the survey, numerous first-time voters view political parties as a threat, including a centrist party.
According to research by the Institute for Generational Research, the Green Party is perceived as a threat by numerous first-time voters in the west and east. The survey revealed that 25% of respondents in the west and 30% in the east fear the party, painting it as extreme and a "prohibition party." Institute founder Rüdiger Maas explained, "The fear of the AfD was stronger, with 65% in the east and 74% in the west."
Maas expressed, "This is a genuine fear among young people regarding parties, not just towards the AfD, but also in other directions. This was a new perspective for us." In one-on-one conversations with young people, they frequently mentioned disturbing videos on social media allegedly demonstrating the Green Party's danger. The party had already experienced a decline in popularity among young voters in the European elections, dropping to 11% among 16-24 year-olds.
Just before the state elections in Thuringia and Saxony, researchers from the Augsburg institute unveiled a study on youth voting behavior. They surveyed 870 individuals aged 16-25 nationwide, representing a diverse cross-section of the population. They also conducted 132 interviews with young people.
Migration is the key concern
Direct interviews led researchers to discover that, despite these fears, there is some tolerance towards the voting decisions of other young voters, even if they vote for the AfD and vice versa. "They say, 'That's my bro and that's my bro, even if he votes left,'" said Maas. The traditional left-right divide is losing its significance, with about one in four rejecting it.
Furthermore, 41% of respondents agreed that the government does not cater to ordinary people's needs. Approximately one-third believed that the government worked against the population. Regardless of party preference, migration was the most frequently cited major issue. Right-wing extremism and climate change were the runner-ups.
The Augsburg institute's study, which surveyed 870 young individuals, revealed that ['The survey'] showed a decline in the Green Party's popularity among young voters in the European elections, dropping to 11% among 16-24 year-olds. Furthermore, the survey discovered that migration was the most frequently cited major issue among young voters, regardless of party preference.
