A majority of unvaccinated individuals in Germany voted for right-wing parties in the recent federal election, with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and “Die Basis” receiving the most votes. The Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) commissioned the Forsa Institute to investigate why people in Germany are not getting vaccinated against Covid-19. The study surveyed 3,048 people between late September and mid-October, and the institute has now released data on the political preferences of the unvaccinated. Two-thirds of unvaccinated adults in Germany belong to the right-wing political spectrum, with about half of them voting for the AfD in the federal election. Unvaccinated individuals also frequently vote for “Die Basis,” a new party with strong ties to the so-called “Querdenker” movement.
The study’s findings reveal a concerning trend in Germany, where a significant portion of the unvaccinated population is aligning with right-wing parties. The AfD, in particular, has been criticized for spreading misinformation about Covid-19 and vaccines, and its popularity among unvaccinated individuals is a cause for alarm. The fact that “Die Basis” is also receiving a significant number of votes from the unvaccinated population is also worrying, given the party’s association with the anti-vaccine movement.
It is important to note that the three largest parties in the Bundestag received significantly fewer votes from unvaccinated individuals in the federal election. This suggests that the unvaccinated population is not evenly distributed across the political spectrum, and that right-wing parties are disproportionately popular among this group. The findings of this study highlight the need for targeted efforts to address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation among right-wing voters in Germany.
