[OPINION] No good immigrants: Lessons from the win of far-right party in Germany

• The recent election in Saxony-Anhalt resulted in a significant victory for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which secured 43.8% of the vote, raising concerns about its anti-immigration policies.
• The AfD's platform includes proposals to restrict immigration of health professionals, particularly targeting non-EU workers, which could negatively impact Germany's healthcare system and the influx of Filipino nurses.
• The rise of far-right parties in Germany and Europe highlights the need for immigrants to unite against divisive narratives and advocate for their rights, while also preparing for the challenges they may face in new environments.

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The citizens of Saxony-Anhalt, a small federal state in eastern Germany, elected their Parliament recently.  The result, a disappointment but not a surprise to poll watchers, was a resounding victory for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). It secured 43.8% of the state’s vote, ending up just three seats short of an absolute majority in the Parliament of Saxony-Anhalt.

But what does this mean for Filipinos? Germany has just 45,000 or so overseas Filipino workers (OFW), and Saxony-Anhalt is home to only a few hundred (current) Filipino passport-holders, being poorer and more conservative than most other German states.  

I argue, however, that current and prospective OFWs all over the world can take important lessons from the AfD’s victory in this region.

In the run-up to the election, the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt published a detailed campaign platform that devoted much attention to migration and asylum policy. The proposed crackdowns on irregular migration and social welfare support for immigrants and refugees were expected. In response, the TGD, a non-government organization representing Germany’s community of Turkish immigrants, has asked the federal government not to send incoming refugees into Sachsen-Anhalt, out of concern that they will become targets of extreme new policies.

In addition, however, the AfD proposed drastic reductions to in-migration of health professionals, including a virtual ban on those coming from outside Europe. The AfD reasoned that doctors and nurses from foreign backgrounds would endanger patients because of their purported limited German language skills, lower-quality training, and alien cultural values. 

This is a more extreme position than earlier assertions, where the party claimed to be targeting foreigners with irregular residency status, or who had committed criminal offenses. It also flies in the face of the party’s attempts to portray itself as being friendly to the “right” kind of immigrant: the party’s co-leader at the federal level, Alice Weidel, is famously married to a woman born in Sri Lanka but adopted into a European family as a small child.

Of course, the AfD’s proposal to forbid entry to non-EU nurses and doctors received widespread critique in German media (to be fair, as did most of its platform, since German mainstream media is hostile to the AfD). Germany has an aging population, and has trouble retaining the nurses it either imports or trains. 

Refusing to admit trained health professionals into the country would drastically undermine its health system. Around 14% of all practicing doctors in Germany have a foreign passport. Well-traveled observers might also note that Germany can hardly accuse foreign health workers of being less trained: unlike many countries from which it imports nurses, Germany gives its own nurses vocational training instead of full university degrees. 

And there’s the rub.  

Weaponizing one group vs the other

Health professionals are supposed to belong to the vaguely-defined category of “good immigrants,” as essential workers that the aging populations of the Global North can’t do without. Filipino nurses, in particular, are often the standard-bearers of the Pinoy diaspora, a welcome asset to their host countries as among the most sought-after nurses in the world.  

Rising bilateral cooperation between Germany and the Philippines is bringing more and more Pinoy nurses and doctors to Germany. But in 2026, they and other international professionals are accused of being a potential threat to the health and lives of patients.  What kind of social and political climate awaits these new arrivals in the coming years?

Many Filipinos abroad believe that they are safe from xenophobic and racist hate because they follow the rules, offer essential services, and even accept mistreatment — all with the signature Filipino charm and cheer. This self-concept, along with a healthy dose of internalized racism, is why some diaspora Filipinos support xenophobic policies. The assumption is that these proposals will apply to the “other” immigrants. “Good” immigrants need not worry. 

The AfD’s proposals show that their agenda was never really about separating the “good” immigrants from the “bad” ones. It was about weaponizing one group against another, and discarding minorities according to their own political convenience. 

Saxony-Anhalt’s election might not be as exceptional as we would like to think. The AfD’s popularity is rising all over Germany, nowadays polling as the country’s most or second-most popular party, and it is even able to attract a share of votes from immigrants — especially those who consider themselves “good” immigrants distinct from “bad” ones.  

Efficient collaborators

Far-right parties are rising in power all over Europe and other regions, and are proving to be efficient collaborators, as shown by the mutual support between the AfD and the American MAGA movement. Hence, there are many places in the world where immigrants can learn this painful lesson: for true haters, there is really no such thing as a good immigrant.

In the face of all this unpredictability, the most constructive mindset for immigrants is to maintain a healthy sense of self-love and kinship, especially with like-minded locals and a diverse set of other newcomers.  Take pride in your international heritage and your courage to embrace change, and respect these traits in others who have also made the leap.   

Adhering to conservative distinctions between good and bad immigrants is only playing into the far right’s strategy to divide and conquer minorities. If you are globally-minded enough to cross continents to build your future, you can also be open to partnering with other communities of internationals.  Self-advocacy is also important. Those immigrants who can safely take part in public civil society actions could do so more often. 

As for those who are still in their homeland and thinking about going abroad, they should take on a global mindset early in their migration process. Even before leaving the country, it is important to be informed about potential destinations. 

What are the specific opportunities and challenges in each destination? Knowing that, are you still ready to make the journey, and how do you plan to prepare yourself?  Are you aware of all your options, so that you can choose the best possible way to arrive at a new home?

Last but not least, Filipino government authorities and representatives should consistently do their utmost to negotiate a fair deal for OFWs and raise the country’s global standing. OFWs are not simply “labor export” or “good immigrants,” but have dignity and rights no matter what the locals in a destination country might think of them.  

In an unpredictable and sometimes hostile world, people should be able to count on their homeland’s leadership as a stable source of identity, integrity, and strength.  This rootedness is a key factor in being able to make a good home anywhere in the world. – Rappler.com

Jamina Jugo is a research officer at the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, and a lecturer in European Studies at the Ateneo de Manila. She received her doctorate in Political Science from the University of Göttingen in Lower Saxony, Germany. She is a naturalized German citizen.