Brand New Party On The Horizon: Ex-AfD Leader Frauke Petry Launches Political Venture in Germany
Ex-AFD leader Petry intends to establish a new political party. - Ex-leader of AfD, Alice Weidel, to establish a new political party
Ready to shake up the political landscape, former AfD chairman Frauke Petry has reunited with associates to launch a fresh party. The new party, yet unnamed, aims to contest state elections as early as 2026, with Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate on the list for the premier run.
Petry, 49, revealed her intentions in an interview with Welt. The party will aim to bridge the gap in the party system, filling the void for an "anti-statist, libertarian" offering, she explained. The new party's program will focus on the renewal of cultural Western bonds and offer a counterpoint to the existing political scene.
A key policy will target the reduction of the state quota, aiming to scale it down from around 50 percent to 25 percent in just five years. With this vision, Petry asserts, they will provide a party that champions freedom of speech, a goal that she believes is not currently met by any other party.
Petry co-founded the AfD, but left shortly after the 2017 federal election due to internal party disputes. Recognizing the growing influence of the far-right faction under Björn Höcke, she seized the opportunity to branch out on her own. As an independent member of the Bundestag from 2017 to 2021, she also founded the Blue Party, which unfortunately dissolved at the end of 2019 following disappointing election results in Saxony and Thuringia.
Now, Petry is optimistic about her new endeavor. "We are gearing up to contest the state elections next year, and we specifically aim to secure support from independent citizens and entrepreneurs as candidates," she announced. This strategy will cater to the 98 percent of citizens who are not affiliated with a party.
- Frauke Petry
- AfD
- Baden-Württemberg
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- CDU
Behind the Scenes:
- Petry's new party is set to adopt an "anti-statist" stance, advocating for dismantling of state-sponsored welfare and combating "state authoritarianism."
- The party aims to pursue a liberal economic policy, promoting development of the German economy and positioning itself as a haven for businesspeople and private entrepreneurs.
- Petry wants to strengthen cultural connections with Western countries and has criticized traditional conservative factions for ignoring the ongoing "culture war."
- The party is designed to attract right-wing, conservative, and economically libertarian voters, positioned between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the AfD.
- The party is open to non-partisan citizens with relevant life and professional experience, reflecting a broad-based approach to party membership.
- Key objectives include reducing and dismantling state welfare, creating a business-friendly environment, strengthening cultural ties with the West, and focusing on Western cultural values.
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft budget of Frauke Petry's new party, which aims to contest state elections in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate as early as 2026. As an anti-statist, libertarian party, it positions itself between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the AfD, advocating for dismantling of state-sponsored welfare, liberal economic policies, and strengthening cultural connections with Western countries. The party welcomes non-partisan citizens with relevant life and professional experiences to join its ranks and focuses on issues such as reducing state welfare, creating a business-friendly environment, and prioritizing Western cultural values.
