Alternative for Germany

Alternative for Germany is a right-wing political party in Germany. Founded in 2013, it initially focused on opposition to the euro before shifting to a platform centered on national conservatism, right-wing populism, and German nationalism. It is considered the first party to the right of the Christian Democratic Union to achieve sustained national representation since the Federal Republic's founding, and it is monitored by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a suspected case of right-wing extremism.

History

The party was established in February 2013 by economist Bernd Lucke, journalist Konrad Adam, and lawyer Alexander Gauland, primarily as a protest against eurozone bailouts. It narrowly missed entering the Bundestag in the 2013 federal election. A 2015 internal power struggle, centered on the migrant crisis, saw the more nationalist faction led by Frauke Petry and Jörg Meuthen oust Lucke. Under this new leadership, it entered 14 of 16 state parliaments and, following the 2017 federal election, became the largest opposition party in the Bundestag. After Petry's departure, the party was led by Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, consolidating its position and achieving record results in the 2024 European elections and subsequent state elections.

Ideology and political positions

Its platform combines economic liberal elements with socially conservative and nationalist policies. Core positions include strict immigration controls, rejection of what it calls "multiculturalism," a emphasis on traditional German leading culture, and skepticism towards mainstream climate change policies like the Energiewende. In foreign policy, it advocates for a "turnaround" in relations with Russia and is critical of the EU and NATO. The party's rhetoric often focuses on remigration, the protection of the traditional family, and opposition to gender ideology.

Organization and structure

The party is organized federally, with strong regional associations in states like Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg. Its youth organization is the Young Alternative for Germany. Leadership is vested in a federal executive board, with Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla serving as federal spokespersons. The party's parliamentary group in the Bundestag is led by Weidel and Bernd Baumann, while its delegation in the European Parliament is part of the Identity and Democracy group. Internal factions range from National conservative to more overtly radical elements, leading to frequent public disputes.

Electoral performance

It first entered the European Parliament in 2014. After entering its first state parliament in Saxony in 2014, it achieved representation in all 16 state legislatures. In the 2017 federal election, it won 12.6% of the vote, becoming the third-largest party. It repeated this result in the 2021 federal election. Its strongest performances have been in the former East German states, where it has topped polls, as seen in the 2024 Thuringia state election. The party achieved a national breakthrough in the 2024 European elections, winning the most votes in Germany.

Controversies and criticism

The party faces persistent allegations of right-wing extremism, racism, and undermining democracy. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the party as a suspected extremist case and has placed its youth wing and the state associations in Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt under official surveillance. Prominent members have been linked to the Reichsbürger movement and have made statements downplaying Nazi crimes, such as those about the Berlin Holocaust Memorial. Its rhetoric on immigration and Islam has been widely condemned as xenophobic. Major CDU and SPD figures have ruled out any form of political cooperation with it at the federal level.

Category:Political parties in Germany