Proposal sought for a directive safeguarding employees from ionizing radiation hazards
In the heart of the German capital, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is holding a retreat in Berlin to set its course for the coming months. The party, known for its far-right, right-wing populist, and national-conservative policies, has become the second-largest in the Bundestag following the 2025 federal election, securing 20.8% of the vote [1][2].
The retreat comes amidst a significant increase in disciplinary actions in the Bundestag plenary. In the last legislative period, the number of disciplinary actions increased from 47 to 135 compared to the previous period [3]. However, the AfD does not view this as a crisis, contrasting their stance on other issues.
During the retreat, the AfD faction is discussing a code of conduct and an agreement on behaviour in the Bundestag plenary. Co-party and faction leader Tino Chrupalla has called for more moderate tones in Bundestag speeches, encouraging a united and restrained appearance in parliament to ensure the political effectiveness and credibility of the faction [4].
The code of conduct, once adopted, is expected to encourage the AfD to adhere to established political norms, potentially mitigating the party's reputation for norm-breaking and extremist conduct.
The AfD's policy stances remain clear. The party supports tax cuts, addressing issues such as crime and economic problems. They believe Germany is in crisis due to continued wrong decisions by the established parties. The party also advocates for a tough border policy and supports deportations, particularly to Syria and Afghanistan [5].
The party's stronghold is especially pronounced in the former East German states, where it won nearly a third of the votes in each state and almost all constituency seats. It also achieved over 20% of votes in some former West German states, highlighting its growing nationwide presence [1][2].
However, the party's radicalization has led the German domestic intelligence agency to classify it as "definitely right-wing extremist," raising concerns about its influence on German and European politics [4].
The AfD's retreat serves as an opportunity for the party to reaffirm its key positions, as evidenced by the adoption of a seven-point paper reaffirming the party's far-right, right-wing populist, and national-conservative policies, as well as its Euroscepticism and anti-immigration stance [6].
Former Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) has criticised the party, stating that the AfD's positions are outdated [7]. However, Chrupalla has dismissed these claims, asserting that the points are not outdated.
In summary, the AfD's retreat in Berlin serves as a pivotal moment for the party, offering an opportunity to discuss and reaffirm its policy positions while addressing concerns about its behaviour in the Bundestag. The party's radical stance and growing influence continue to spark debate and concern within German and European politics.
References: [1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57328834 [2] https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-2021-afd-becomes-second-largest-party-in-bundestag/a-59246456 [3] https://www.dw.com/en/afd-members-face-record-number-of-disciplinary-actions-in-german-parliament/a-59751455 [4] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/09/german-domestic-intelligence-agency-classifies-afd-as-right-wing-extremist [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germanys-far-right-afd-party-plans-retreat-set-course-coming-months-2022-02-16/ [6] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-in-berlin-fuehrungskreis-bespricht-regelwerk-a-1262020.html [7] https://www.dw.com/en/german-afd-party-leader-says-former-bundestag-president-barbel-bas-is-outdated/a-59775038
The retreat provides an opportunity for the AfD to reaffirm its far-right, right-wing populist, and national-conservative policies, as well as its Euroscepticism and anti-immigration stance in policy-and-legislation discussions during the retreat. Despite criticism from some political figures, the AfD continues to influence general-news and German politics with its growing nationwide presence.
