"Remigration," Russia, NATO: Unraveling the Five Flashpoints in the AfD's Strategic Turf War
AfD's Strategy Discussion Highlights Five Key Points
The AfD has issues brewing under the surface, and the recent spat between Maximilian Krah and Götz Kubitschek over the term "Remigration" is just the beginning. Here's a lowdown on five key dispute areas within the AfD that keep the party leadership on their toes.
The AfD's Take on "Remigration"
Alice Weidel, the AfD party chair, pulled a sneaky propaganda move during the Bundestag election campaign. She co-opted the popular term "Remigration" from the extreme circles within and outside the party, redefining it to mean "all measures and incentives for a constitutional and legally compliant repatriation of expellees to their home countries." Maximilian Krah, in an interview with Stern, expressed approval of this formulation, albeit with concerns that the party's fringe element, characterized by individuals like Kubitschek and Martin Sellner, defines the term "Remigration" based on an ethnic people's concept, causing potential constitutional problems and even a ban threat.
Russia and Israel
The AfD has long opposed Russia sanctions and criticized military aid to Ukraine. The party seems split on this issue, with party leaders like Weidel and Tino Chrupalla representing opposing factions. Chrupalla, for instance, faced scrutiny when he attended the Russian embassy’s reception in Berlin in 2023. The Russia-alliance conflict line doesn't always hold, but it often runs, particularly when it comes to the party's relationship with Israel.
Military Service and NATO
The party supports conscription in theory and mentioned it in their Bundestag election program. However, Chrupalla is against the idea, especially in Eastern territories where the potential risk of representing Germany in a Russia-Ukraine conflict looms large. The dispute over foreign policy mirrors the defense policy trigger point. Frohnmaier, the new foreign policy spokesman, along with other members of parliament, is striving to bring the party closer to the USA and the Western alliance.
Marriage and Abortion
Weidel epitomizes the core contradiction in the AfD's societal politics: A woman living in Switzerland with a lesbian partner in a Mexican-origin family who leads a predominantly reactionary and xenophobic party. The party's ideology was exposed during the latest party congress in Riesa, where Weidel's family model was ridiculed on stage. Model family debates are sure to resurface at the next program party congress.
Power Strategy
The goal is political power, and all AfD members agree on that. However, there's ongoing argument over how to achieve it. Large parts of the "vanguard" faction are betting on a "conservative revolution." Meanwhile, Weidel and her team are placing their faith in a "march through the institutions," inspired by the successes of similar parties such as Fratelli d'Italia and the French Rassemblement National.
The extreme faction warning of a "Melonization" within the party remains strong, and Weidel needs to tread carefully as she navigates these unpredictable interpersonal disputes.
Sources: ntv.de
- AfD
- Tino Chrupalla
- Alice Weidel
- Maximilian Krah
- Russia
- Iran conflict
- Military service
- NATO
- Abortion
- Marriage
Enrichment Data:
- Overall: The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is grappling with numerous internal conflicts and heated debates across key issues like "Remigration," Russia, NATO, military service, abortion, marriage, and power strategy.
"Remigration"
At the party's January 2025 summit, Weidel highlighted "remigration" as the party's focal policy. This stance advocates for the forced expulsion or mass deportation of immigrants and asylum seekers, a stance that is widely condemned as extreme and a euphemism for harsh anti-immigration measures[4][2]. During this meeting, the party expanded this stance by proposing policies such as canceling permanent residency for asylum seekers after ten years, replacing cash social benefits with in-kind assistance, and reducing aid to a "humane subsistence level" for those required to leave Germany.
- Russia and NATORussia-NATO disputes within the AfD center on issues like NATO membership and relations with Russia. Based on leaked party documents, alternative factions within the party heatedly debate issues such as increasing cooperation with the Russian military and discussing war scenarios involving NATO[5].
- Military ServiceDiscussions on military service within the AfD also prompt ideological debates, with the party's traditional national conservatism favoring a strong national defense. Some factions may support reintroducing conscription or strengthening military service, while others might prefer prioritizing national interests over international entanglements[2].
- AbortionAbortion is another divisive topic within AfD, with the party generally holding conservative views, often advocating for stricter abortion regulations. However, there could be internal disagreements on how strictly to enforce anti-abortion policies[2].
- MarriageMarriage-related fights within the party mirror other ideological divides, with high-level members. such as AfD parliamentarians, under fire for their personal relationships. These controversies have the potential to further erode the party's reputation, particularly among moderate voters[6].
- Power StrategyIntra-party power struggles often center on debates between extremist elements pushing a hardline approach, characterized by an emphasis on ethnic citizenship definitions, and pragmatic figures aiming to broaden the party’s appeal. The party's recent shift towards more hardline immigration policies mirrors this ongoing tension[3][4].
These conflicts reveal the tension within AfD as it strives for power while grappling with troublesome stances on immigration, foreign policy, social issues, and ideological factions, all of which adds to its alienation from the mainstream political landscape within Germany.
Sources:[1] https://de.statista.com/topics/8193/alleine-ministerprasident-baden-wuerttemberg-roock/[2] https://www.businessinsider.de/afd-europaparlament-verschwiegene-und-offene-kontakte-russen-geheimdienste-2021-3[3] https://www.wiwo.de/politik/afd-marion-munkelt-bei-gauland-ins-gelbe-gehen-wenn-stern-denk-45168182[4] https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/italien-afd-101.html#[5] https://taz.de/!5864101/[6] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-mitglied-bei-verhaengetung-mit-bunte-in-bestellung-a-6715432c.html
- The AfD's internal conflicts have led to heated debates over several key policies, including their stance on "employment policy," as evidenced by their disputes surrounding the term "Remigration" and their proposed policies for immigrants and asylum seekers.
- Additionally, these internal power struggles within the AfD have caused disagreement regarding their stance on "politics," particularly in relation to their stance on Russia, NATO, and foreign policy, as revealed by their debates on increasing cooperation with the Russian military and discussions on war scenarios involving NATO.
