What Is the AfD? Inside the Far-Right Party’s Rise in Germany

The Rise of AfD as a Mass Movement in Eastern Germany

According to Saxony-Anhalt regional leader Ulrich Siegmund, interviewed on Markus Lanz’s political talk show as cited by Gergolet, the party’s success stems from years of deliberate community organizing. Siegmund stated that the movement prepared for years by organizing local family festivals, democratic gatherings, and moped outings reminiscent of East German traditions. While mainstream parties often remained invisible in rural areas, AfD mobilized by studying populist playbooks from Austria and Hungary to capture eastern regions that established parties largely ignored.

According to background reporting, AfD was founded in 2013 by a group of economists and academics including Bernd Lucke, initially focusing on European debt crises and anti-euro policies. Following the 2015 European migrant crisis, leadership shifted toward figures like Frauke Petry and later Alice Weidel, steering the party toward hardline anti-immigration and nationalist platforms. In the September 2024 regional elections, AfD secured a historic victory in Thuringia under leader Björn Höcke, surpassing the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at 24% and marking the first time a far-right party won a regional election in postwar Germany, as reported.

Radical Manifestos and Regional Extremism

According to Gergolet’s reporting from Magdeburg, the ideology of the Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia party branches represents the most radical wing of AfD. The Magdeburg manifesto, adopted in April and authored by Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, outlines proposals that the London Times characterized as focusing on deportation and segregation. The platform includes remigration policies, a return to Prussian-style education with segregated classrooms for disabled children and refugees, and deep ties with Russia.

This initial veneer of mainstream credibility allowed the organization to later normalize völkisch nationalist ideology within the German parliamentary system, breaking decades of postwar political gatekeeping.

The Debate Over a Constitutional Ban and Political Isolation

According to Gergolet, the rise of the party has divided German politicians over whether to pursue a constitutional ban. Ten days prior to reporting, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Green governor Cem Özdemir both expressed support for banning regional groups classified as definitely extremist.

Meanwhile, internal dynamics within AfD show a divide between pragmatic federal leaders like Alice Weidel and more radical figures such as Björn Höcke and Ulrich Siegmund.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Alternative für Deutschland founded?

What role did the 2015 migrant crisis play in AfD’s growth?

How do mainstream parties treat AfD in German parliaments?

Why is the party stronger in eastern Germany?

According to Gergolet, early organizers capitalized on a post-reunification civil society vacuum in the former East Germany, building deep local roots and addressing regional economic discontent that mainstream parties largely ignored.