Germany’s far-right is riding a wave of momentum ahead of elections. During its conference in Riesa, Saxony, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) outlined plans to shut Germany’s borders ahead of elections, restart Russian gas imports, and effectively dismantle the European Union. The party’s manifesto includes proposals to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, abandon the Euro, and form a new confederation of states.
AfD leader Alice Weidel openly endorsed “remigration,” a term associated with the mass deportation of individuals with migrant backgrounds. Thousands of protesters gathered in Riesa, attempting to block access to the conference. Weidel dismissed them as a “left-wing mob” and spoke to a receptive audience about large-scale repatriations, embracing the term “remigration” despite its controversial history.
This marks a stark shift from a year ago when Weidel distanced herself from a scandal involving discussions of “remigration” with far-right activist Martin Sellner. Critics argue that “remigration” is a euphemism for racist mass deportations.
Weidel’s embrace of this term and other radical positions, such as dismantling wind farms and exiting the EU asylum system, signals the AfD’s growing confidence. Despite consistently polling second nationally and making gains in the east, the AfD is unlikely to gain power due to other parties’ refusal to cooperate.
The party’s right-wing extremism is under scrutiny, with sections classified as extremist by domestic intelligence. High-profile figures like Björn Höcke have faced fines for using banned Nazi phrases, and chants of “Alice für Deutschland” at the conference drew media comparisons to the Nazi slogan.
Weidel, a former economist and Goldman Sachs employee in a same-sex relationship, has sought to moderate the party’s image. However, critics view her as a deceptive figure masking the party’s extremism.
Her recent appearance on Elon Musk’s X platform, where she received his endorsement, has elevated her profile. Controversially, she claimed Adolf Hitler was a communist, sparking outrage and accusations of Nazi revisionism, a recurring issue for the AfD.
The party’s anti-establishment, anti-immigration, and anti-“woke” stance continues to attract followers, with Germany set to vote on February 23.
