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AfD under criticism: trip to Russia and internal scandals cause uproar
Find out the current developments about the AfD, its trips to Russia and the challenges in the context of right-wing extremism in Germany.
AfD under criticism: trip to Russia and internal scandals cause uproar
Things are really bubbling up at the AfD again! A recent plan to travel to Russia to attend a Brics conference on the Black Sea is causing quite a stir. Members of the Bundestag such as Steffen Kotré and Rainer Rothfuß, the Saxon AfD state leader Jörg Urban and European MP Hans Neuhoff should be there. But the CSU, led by General Secretary Martin Huber, is attacking and speaking of “treason”. He even describes the AfD as a “puppet” of Moscow. The Union sees the party as a risk for Germany and is calling for thorough reviews, possibly even a party ban, to put a stop to the AfD's influence. As n-tv reports, a meeting with former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev was initially considered, but fell through after public criticism.
A central goal of this trip is to keep channels of communication with Russia open, comparable to contacts with US Republicans. The idea certainly has its appeal, but many see it as an irresponsible approach to a country that violates international legal norms, according to critical voices. The AfD is known to the public for its close ties to Russia and Vladimir Putin's regime, which is waging a war against Ukraine that violates international law.
Drama in the party
And that's not the only controversy plaguing the AfD. Bundestag member Arne Raue is under disciplinary proceedings after he made serious allegations against a pastor that she was covering up crimes committed by refugees. In addition, the immunities of MPs Raimond Scheirich and Andreas Jurca were lifted because they are being investigated for breach of trust and fraud. These developments cast a distorted light on the party, which has not covered itself in glory anyway.
In Baden-Württemberg, the AfD even had to cancel its planned “youth festival” after restaurateurs got wind of the event and withdrew their participation. And in North Rhine-Westphalia there is also a fragmented faction: several new AfD associations have dissolved after a short time or have collapsed into disputes.
Nevertheless, the party appears to be in flux in some parts of its structures. The AfD has submitted a request to the Stuttgart state parliament to gain access to a tunnel that connects the state parliament library with the House of Representatives. This could be seen as a measure to improve internal communication after security regulations were tightened following an incident in which an AfD MP was caught entering the state parliament with a hunting knife and ammunition.
Social perception
As the AfD heads into a storm of political and social resistance, the question arises: How will this development affect the political landscape in Germany? There are some indications that not only will it remain turbulent, but it may also become more intense.