So how did Merkel get elected again?
Six party election for the most part (even though there’s thirty-plus total parties).
Five of the six carried a Merkel-like stance on immigration. AfD was the opposing view.
AfD has only five years of existence...being created for the most part as a anti-Euro party.
If you look at AfD candidates...very few 4-star characters and this was readily apparent. If you go looking at various platforms...they had a strong immigrant platform, and a strong law-enforcement platform. Beyond, it was awful weak. Don’t even ask about pension or tax reform issues...they have none.
On the one plus-side for Merkel....with the EU deal for Turkey....they’ve held back the immigrants since spring of 2016. Presently, Germany is back to the normal 250,000 to 300,000 per year (the average for 30 years).
Party loyalty. Economy also not so bad. Her party did so well last time, they could afford to lose a lot of votes this time and still come out on top.
The second strongest party, the Socialists, split the left vote with the Greens and the Left Party, so even though Merkel's Christian Democrat lost votes they are still the strongest party in the Bundestag.
The funny thing is that the Socialists (or Social Democrats) are also Merkel's current coalition parties, so it's like the Republicans and Democrats formed a governing coalition with the opposition composed of Libertarians, Greens, Reform, Constitution, and various socialist parties.
Word is Merkel may try for a coalition with the FPD and Greens this time.