Young German Politicians Warn of Youth Disillusionment and Rising Extremism
Germany's Youth Study Paints a Bleak Picture—But Two Young Politicians Say There's No Need for Despair
This week, the "Youth in Germany" trend study made grim headlines: one-third of 14- to 29-year-olds report needing psychological support, one-fifth are considering emigration, and only a minority still trust political institutions. Meanwhile, support for all parties—except the far-right AfD and the left-wing Die Linke—is plummeting.
Yet a pair of young politicians from the center-left Greens and the center-right CDU argue there is "no reason for resignation"—though they insist the political establishment must change course. In a sharply worded op-ed, Mayra Vriesema and Nora Zabel write: "Every democratic party should ask itself: When was the last time we actually did something for young people in this country? A social media reel from party headquarters with empty phrases like 'we take you seriously' just doesn't cut it anymore."
Vriesema, 26, entered the Bundestag last year as a successor to Green leader Robert Habeck, making her the youngest member of her party's parliamentary group. Zabel, 29, is a CDU member who works for a lawmaker and, as an author, will publish a book in 2025 on Generation Z in eastern Germany.
Their essay reflects a deep understanding of their generation's frustrations. "The old promise of upward mobility no longer holds," they write. Hard work is no longer enough to afford a home. Performance pressure collides with dwindling prospects, and the social contract between generations is unraveling: "You don't need to be a mathematician to see that young people will be left with next to nothing."
Still, they caution against misinterpreting the study's findings as proof of a "depoliticized, apathetic generation." The turn away from mainstream parties isn't born of indifference but of a sense that "established parties simply fail to see the needs of young people." When traditional politics disappoints, the disillusioned seek alternatives—and some find them in far-right movements that "deliberately appeal to identity and recognition, while other parties often come across as too technocratic and out of touch with young people's daily lives."
9-Euro Tickets and Youth Centers: A Three-Point Plan
Vriesema and Zabel propose solutions on three fronts. First, political processes must embrace "real participation"—through institutionalized youth parliaments, binding consultation procedures, and dialogue formats that treat young people as equals.
Second, they call for a "new generational contract that invests in the minds and hearts of our youth." This includes easier access to culture and social participation: "It sounds basic, but a culture pass or a 9-euro transport ticket enables outings and activities that significantly boost mental health—and helps those who can't afford a cinema trip or train fare by the end of the month."
Third, they demand a focus on eastern Germany and struggling rural regions, where department stores, bookshops, cafés, and pubs are vanishing. "Coupled with a lack of career opportunities, this drives away talented young people—especially women."
Their concrete proposal? Repurpose vacant buildings as youth centers. But to make rural areas livable for the young, they argue, the state must also ensure reliable train services, sufficient doctors, and daycare centers with enough staff. "If the government doesn't think radically local and abandons these regions, it creates a vacuum—and far-right extremists will fill it," they warn.
