AfDs

AfD, short for Alternative für Deutschland (Alternative for Germany), is a German political party founded in 2013 by economists and conservatives, including Bernd Lucke. It emerged as a Eurosceptic platform opposed to the euro rescue policies and the eurozone bailouts, attracting members from liberal and conservative backgrounds.

In the years that followed, the party shifted toward right-wing populism with a strong emphasis on immigration and national sovereignty. Its platform calls for stricter border controls, reform of asylum and immigration policy, and a critical stance toward the European Union's handling of migration and some climate policies. The party has been described as nationalist and conservative, with a mixture of economic liberal and socially conservative positions.

Electoral history: The AfD entered the Bundestag in the 2017 federal election, winning about 12.6% of the vote (94 seats). In 2021 it won around 10% and about 83 seats, making it one of the larger opposition parties. The party has long been strongest in eastern Germany, with substantial support in states like Saxony, Brandenburg, and Thuringia, while its vote share remains small in many western states. It has not formed a federal or state government.

Organization and controversy: The AfD contains divergent currents, from conservative to far-right elements. In 2020 the party leadership announced the dissolution of the so-called Der Flügel, a hard-right faction, though observers say its influence persisted. The German domestic intelligence service has monitored the party and, in various assessments, identified extremist or anti-democratic tendencies within parts of the AfD. The party and its members have faced internal disputes and several departures to other parties.

Overall, the AfD remains a major opposition force in German politics, highlighting migration and national sovereignty as core issues and continuing to influence public debate ahead of elections.