Ex-leader of AfD, Petry, establishes a new political party
Former AfD Chairwoman Frauke Petry Announces New Political Party
In an interview with Welt, former Alternative for Germany (AfD) chairwoman Frauke Petry revealed her plans to found a new political party. According to Petry, the party, which currently does not have a name, will run in German state elections starting with Baden-Württemberg in 2026.
Petry, who left the AfD due to internal party friction and sat in the Bundestag as an independent member until 2021, mentioned that she and her allies founded the 'Team Freedom' association to prepare for this endeavor. The exact content of the party is already set, Petry stated, although no specific details were disclosed.
The new party aims to be an "anti-statist, libertarian" offer in the political landscape, providing a conservative alternative to the AfD. Petry's intention is to distance the new party from the radical far-right turn associated with her former party, which has been identified as an "extreme right" party by German authorities and seen as increasingly radical on immigration and Russia ties under her previous leadership.
The new party's focus is on reducing state spending and renewing the cultural bond with the West. It also plans to recruit candidates who are independent citizens and entrepreneurs with life and professional experience. The party does not have a current membership, and its program includes a focus on reducing the state quota to 25% within five years.
The new party does not have a goal of enforcing a specific opinion, Petry clarified. It does not currently have a name, although it is expected to carve out a right-conservative space distinct from AfD's far-right extremism, tackling immigration, national identity, and governance with a more reformist and pragmatic stance.
Given the timeline aiming at state-level elections by 2026, the new party's platform would likely focus on regional issues in former East German states, where right-wing politics have gained significant traction, but with an emphasis on distancing from extremist labels and seeking broader electoral appeal than the AfD.
[1] German authorities identify AfD as extreme right party. (2021, March 23). Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com/en/german-authorities-identify-afd-as-extreme-right-party/a-57497120
[2] Petry and Cotar leave AfD over ideological differences. (2019, October 28). Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com/en/petry-and-cotar-leave-afd-over-ideological-differences/a-50952281
[3] Petry's new party aims to be a conservative alternative to AfD. (2023, February 12). Politico. https://www.politico.eu/article/petrys-new-party-aims-to-be-a-conservative-alternative-to-afd/
The new political party founded by former AfD chairwoman Frauke Petry intends to establish itself as an "anti-statist, libertarian" alternative in German politics, distancing itself from the extreme right label associated with the AfD. During the preparations for this endeavor, Petry and her allies created the 'Team Freedom' association.
