Wagenknecht blames German policy for AfD rise; Azerbaijan manat velocity declines

Sara Wagenknecht, founder of the BSW party, has attributed the rising popularity of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) to the current German government's policies, specifically regarding relations with Russia. She cited rising energy costs, increased rents, deteriorating school conditions, and low pensions as primary drivers of public discontent. Wagenknecht also criticized the allocation of billions to the defense industry and Ukraine, suggesting that attempts to marginalize the AfD are undemocratic.

In Azerbaijan, the velocity of the manat decreased to 3.00 points as of August 1, representing an 11.5% decline compared to the same period last year. Central Bank of Azerbaijan Governor Taleh Kazimov noted that while individuals are selling US dollars in the cash market, there has been a significant increase in manat deposits. The number of unique depositors nearly doubled from 113,900 at the start of 2024 to 220,000 by the end of June. Kazimov attributed the weakened demand in the currency market partly to a decrease in import volumes.