Angela Merkel allies warn: A Donald Trump could happen in Germany too

Head of the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, Frauke Petry. Photo: AP

 

Berlin: Leading allies of German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Thursday that populists would pose a problem for Europe unless mainstream politicians came up with answers after Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.

Trump’s win has encouraged right-wing parties in Austria, France and the Netherlands, among others. A Politbarometer poll for broadcaster ZDF showed 82 per cent of Germans viewed it as bad or very bad, and 65 per cent expected relations with the United States to deteriorate under Trump’s presidency.