In these dark times of racially charged election campaigns, the German left offers a flicker of hope | Fatma Aydemir

I He was shopping for groceries on the last day in the neglected northern suburbs in Berlin, when I remembered a joke. A banker and a recipient of social welfare and asylum seeker sits at a table. There are 12 cookies connected to them. The banker takes 11 cookie correlation and says to a social welfare recipient: “Watch out, the refugee wants your cookie.”

She returned to me when she saw a young white mother who lost her completely when I go out. Initially, I thought it was the prices that caused her anger, although there was no indication of that; Perhaps I just expected my concerns about money to a woman’s anger. It took me some time to realize that she was accusing another woman, too, but she was not white, from standing on her way. She shouted that this was her country and we all had to go out of her way and see soon. Two people told her to be calm and a older woman went to calm her, but there was no chance. The young white mother chose to stay loud and angry, and she knew exactly from.

In the period before the federal elections this Sunday, it appears that there is no issue for pressure in the German media, such as immigration. Almost all political parties were busy for weeks fighting Phantom called criminal immigrants, who all promised to deport him or “return immigrants”, depending on the party’s relevant language-or will make sure that the criminal immigrant does not happen here in the first place by leaving the asylum law.

News about the devastating attacks such as that week in Munich, where a car was shocked by the crowd in a trade union march, Two peopleUnfortunately, it creates a climate of fear that the alternative between the right -wing extremist party (AFD) is created for more than a decade and now benefits from more than others. the Suspect He is an Afghan youth. There is no word, of course, about the fact that the victims, the mother and her daughter, were immigrants from Algeria and her child, because it defeats the goal of the extremist narration.

Unfortunately, almost all German political parties have been involved in recent weeks in a race to claim that they will deport most asylum seekers in the name of law and order. The consultant, Olaf Schools, of social democrats, has already increased the amount of deportation 70 % Within a little more than three years, he reminded the fact that he proudly reminded voters during the so -called TV discussion “Advisor Duel”.

The Shuls opponent and his potential successor, Christian Democrat Ferdrich Mirz, wants to go forward and It is forbidden Resorters from entering the country, while Expatriate people With double nationality that commits a crime. Group protests It happened In every large city this month after Mirz was shattered by the taboos and Acceptable support For AFD plans. By the way, Mirz was the head of the supervisory board of the German investment company Black Rock until 2020. He is Banking is a joke of cookies.

But in these dark times, when the election campaign is greatly affected by racist discourse, there is a flash of hope for the German political scene, and it is the only party that refused its commitment to the Foreigners ’choir: Die Link (the left)). Finally, this approach pays its fruits: while the support in December decreased by Die Linke to 3 % in opinion polls – with the expectation that a 5 % threshold not to enter Bundestag – after just two months, just after only two months b Caught It is currently based on 7 %. He did this by standing at home and staying the only political alternative to align migration in German policy.

After Mirz refused to avoid AFD support for his proposed suppression of asylum seekers, there was a stir in Bundestag. But it was A letter in the room By Heidi ReichinNek’s co -captain, who became a virus on social media. In my heart and emotional reaction to Mirz’s cooperation with the far right, Richenknik, 36, expressed their anger at the fact that a party calls himself calling for the Christian Democrat concluded “right -wing extrem [in parliament] … you work with those who continue in the same ideology. “

video Rishink’s fiery speech Causing An increase in membership In addition to the flow of new social media to die. AFD was the most popular German party in Tiktok, but in a few days, Die Link exceeded it. “Queen Heidi”, as the young supporters describe their new icon, speak in favor of economic redistribution, abolishing abortion and an unrestricted right to asylum – it does this with enthusiasm that completely lacks the rest of the German political field.

Die Link’s call is among young people, who make up only a minority of voters. However, between children and adolescents under the age of 18, a Survey offers Linke dies is the most popular party. It will be interesting to see how this effect is running in the coming years, but even 7 % of the voters die You may reach On Sunday it can be decisive in these elections.

This is not because the party may end up with the support of the coalition: the differences in politics are very profound for that. But this should mean stronger opposition, an opposition ready to invite human rights violations as well as economic policies that prefer billionaires. Cookies will not be equally divided by next week, but their calculation and monitoring will continue, by a new generation that is tired of the most vulnerable groups that are played against each other.

• Fatima Idimir, based in Berlin, is a novelist and a theater writer Europe Column