AfD party congress faces internal conflicts and 50,000 protesters

Germany's AfD is preparing for a federal congress this weekend where party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla are running for re-election to leadership positions, but face significant discontent in several state-level organisations. The event is expected to be accompanied by up to 50,000 opposition protesters. The agenda also includes Björn Höcke's proposal to change party internal rules and questions about AfD's connections to Russian diplomatic initiatives.

Germany's AfD (Alternative for Germany) is preparing for an important federal congress taking place this weekend, which is expected to be accompanied by up to 50,000 opposition protesters. Although party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla are running for leadership positions without direct challengers, party morale is strained and both leaders could face significant losses in the vote.

Internal conflicts in the states

The main source of discontent stems from three important state organisations, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony, which are unhappy with the party leadership. On the congress agenda are two important personnel decisions regarding the composition of the federal executive committee, which could further shift the party's internal balance of power.

Special attention is being given to a proposal from Björn Höcke and others, which would essentially invalidate the party's internal rules registry and establish statutes of limitations for former right-wing extremists. The party leadership wants to block this proposal, which was submitted without prior agreement, but its outcome remains uncertain.

In Russia's shadow

Against the backdrop of the congress, the role of AfD foreign policy spokesperson Markus Frohnmaier in a Russian initiative to restore economic talks between Germany and the US comes into focus. Moscow's objective is to decouple Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the war against civilians from economic relations with Western countries. According to an investigation by journalists from Politico and Die Welt, these efforts are conducted in part through Frohnmaier, to whom Russia has assigned a specific role in the process.

Academy for future ministers

The congress will also bring to light a new AfD project, the "Academy Schwarz-Rot-Gold," which aims to prepare party members for potential government positions in the states. The academy offers training and simultaneously serves as a kind of career centre, creating a professional development platform for the party's future officials.

Despite oversight by Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and accusations of radicalisation, the AfD has continued to grow, making the party's next steps important for shaping German politics and also significant in the broader European context.