Alexander Gauland

Alexander Gauland is a German politician and a co-founder of the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He served as a Member of the Bundestag from 2017 to 2021 and was a leading figure in the party's national executive committee. Gauland's political rhetoric, often focusing on national identity, immigration, and criticism of the European Union, has made him a highly controversial figure in German politics.

Early life and education

Alexander Gauland was born in Chemnitz during the final years of Nazi Germany and grew up in the West German state of Hesse. He completed his Abitur in Gießen before studying history, political science, and law at the University of Marburg and the Free University of Berlin. After passing his first state examination in law, he received a scholarship from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, which is affiliated with the Social Democratic Party of Germany. He completed his legal training with a second state examination and earned a doctorate in law in 1975 with a dissertation on the British House of Commons.

Political career

Gauland began his professional life as a civil servant in the Federal Ministry of the Interior and later worked as a journalist for newspapers like the *Märkische Allgemeine*. His formal political career started within the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), where he held various positions, including state chairman in Brandenburg and chief of staff for Minister-President Manfred Stolpe. After leaving the CDU in 2013, he co-founded the Alternative for Germany, quickly becoming one of its most prominent spokespersons. He served as the AfD's lead candidate in the 2017 federal election and was elected to the Bundestag, where he co-chaired the AfD parliamentary group alongside Alice Weidel. He was also a member of the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union and stepped down from the Bundestag ahead of the 2021 German federal election.

Political positions and views

Gauland is known for his national conservative and Eurosceptic positions, advocating for a return of substantial political powers from the European Union to member states. He has been a vocal critic of Germany's immigration policies, particularly during the 2015 migrant crisis, and has called for stricter border controls. His speeches often emphasize German cultural identity and history, and he has questioned the prevailing culture of remembrance regarding the Nazi era. Gauland has also expressed skepticism towards climate change policies like the *Energiewende* and has positioned the AfD as a challenger to what he terms the "political establishment" embodied by parties such as the CDU/CSU, the SPD, and Alliance 90/The Greens.

Controversies and criticism

Gauland has faced intense criticism and accusations of historical revisionism and xenophobia. A major controversy arose in 2018 when he described the Nazi era as a "speck of bird shit" in over a thousand years of successful German history, a statement widely condemned by politicians across the spectrum, including Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He has also been criticized for remarks downplaying the legacy of colonialism and for attending events with figures from the Identitarian movement. His rhetoric has led to investigations by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution regarding the AfD's classification, and he has been a focal point for large counter-demonstrations, such as those in Chemnitz in 2018.

Personal life

Alexander Gauland is divorced and has four children. He resides in Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg. An avid enthusiast of equestrianism, he is known to own horses and has participated in riding events. Beyond politics, he has authored several books on historical and political topics, including works on Otto von Bismarck and the history of Prussia.

Category:Alternative for Germany politicians Category:Members of the Bundestag Category:German political writers