Inside Story

Will Angela Merkel’s party bounce back?

A right-wing, anti-immigration party defeats Merkel’s CDU in her home state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.

The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is directly opposed to everything Chancellor Angela Merkel stands for. 

But AfD defeated Merkel’s party in regional elections in her home state.

The chancellor’s popularity is at a five-year low.

She’s faced strong criticism for what’s seen as her open-door refugee policy.

Now, a year before national elections, voters have expressed their disapproval at the ballot box.

So, will Merkel change her policy? And what’s the reaction in Europe?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan

Guests:

Thorsten Benner – Director of the Global Public Policy Institute.

Michael Stuermer – Chief correspondent for the German newspaper Die Welt.

Uli Brueckner – Lecturer at Stanford University and a specialist on European integration.