The latest figures probably came too late for Paul Ronzheimer. In the state elections in Rhineland-Palatinate on Sunday Most young voters voted for the AfD. The second strongest party among young people? The left. The dissatisfaction with “the middle” is great.

The fact that it is precisely these parties that have secured us prosperity for so many decades naturally does not matter to young voters. But it’s not just the young who see many problems but no solutions. Sat.1 reporter Ronzheimer also notices this again and again when he asks: “How is Germany doing?” Despite all the dissatisfaction about this and that in everyday monotony: which country would we really want to exchange our Germany for?

Hatred among the AfD, hatred among the counter-demonstrators

“Right-wing extremist as a last resort?” – Ronzheimer raises this question. An interviewee speaks of a different Germany “Generation Germany”the AfD youth organization. At the founding event, the reporter learns that 1.2 million Syrians and 1.2 million Ukrainians have to leave the country. That would make Germany an empty country. Probably also in the health and care sector.

“In my opinion there should be a ban on the AfD,” says Pascal Bähr to the Sat.1 camera. He knows the party pretty well. From 2013 to 2022, the viewer learns, he was with the AfD youth organization and was even deputy leader in the country. “Germany over everything” was sung, reports Bähr and complains: “Today it is far too normal to vote for right-wing extremists.”

Outside the door, reporter Ronzheimer meets counter-demonstrators. They insult him too. “Get out! Get out!” chanted the crowd. This also frightens the reporter: “I saw sheer hatred in some people’s eyes!”

The influencer also hits reporter Ronzheimer with her statement

“You notice a social clash,” says Ronzheimer – and stages it drastically. He meets the influencer Lilly Baginski, who is known in right-wing circles and was dubbed a “Nazi influencer” by “Spiegel TV”. “I want the traditional family image,” she says. She also records the sentence: “Homosexual is an abnormal trait.”

Baginski probably has no idea how much this position affects the reporter. “It’s not that easy when you’re gay yourself,” says Ronzheimer, and he adds: “That’s crazy!” Homophobia repeatedly concerns him in his report: “What is worse for you – foreigners or gays?” Ronzheimer feels hatred, “especially as a homosexual.”

SPD leader Klingbeil does not provide any new answers

“What do people’s parties have to do now?” Ronzheimer asks the SPD chairman and vice-chancellor at the end Lars Klingbeil. His analysis is hardly surprising. Neither do his answers.

“The SPD has an image problem,” the viewer learns. His party wants to turn from the party of citizens’ benefit recipients back into a party of workers: “We have a clear focus on the economy and work.” He sees “years of mistakes” in migration policy. And also this: “It’s not about insulting voters. We want to fight for AfD voters.”