Protests against Merz's social cuts remain quiet while AfD demonstrations surge

Tens of thousands are protesting against the AfD, but opposition to Friedrich Merz's social welfare cuts—including reductions to Bürgergeld, longer working hours, and dismantling of the welfare state—remains surprisingly muted. Sebastian Friedrich, writing in Der Freitag, identifies several reasons: neoliberal atomization, the experience of failed struggles, unions' closeness to the SPD, and fear that a government crisis would primarily benefit the far right. Meanwhile, Germany's defense budget has risen to 100.9 billion euros this year, an increase of 28.7 billion from the previous year, while social spending faces austerity debates. The article questions why rearmament plays almost no role in protest movements, and notes that the AfD is exploiting the silence on military buildup.