Analyze
The AfD party conference must above all demonstrate unity ahead of the state elections. But behind the scenes things are going smoothly. Both Weidel and Höcke used their networks to become even more influential.
At the end of the party conference, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla want to once again emphasize what they want to achieve from the AfD, as if it was not already clear: they take to the stage and shout: “We want responsibility for this country that we love so much.” And the delegates stand up and wave German flags.
Chrupalla has also previously said that the AfD must finally take over government responsibility. But he also warned: Don’t make promises you can’t keep. A message to the regional associations that may soon rule the country, namely Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. So, in a day and a half, the AfD conference in Erfurt ends, and there are several memorable moments.
Weidel’s triumph
In the election of federal speakers, Alisa Weidel received significantly more votes than Khrupalla. She is 81 percent, he is only 70 percent. Khrupalla explains in an interview with the publication that he also mentioned unpleasant things within the country ARD capital studio. This probably refers to the so-called family matter. A number of AfD MPs have hired close relatives or spouses of other party officials as employees. Khrupalla had in ARD Show Karen Miosga said that the matter has a “zest” and is almost alone in this self-criticism. Those he was referring to, for example from the regional association Saxony-Anhalt, were probably offended by him.
Some see the election results as the first step towards individual leadership, that is, to Weidel without Khrupalla, which Weidel is in ARD broadcast Report from the party conference rejected. We have obligations to voters and Germany. Personnel debates played no role. But the party is already talking about this behind closed doors.
Münzenmayer Network and a new federal executive council
Sebastian Münzenmayer is one of the AfD’s most influential supporters. With the help of the network named after him, he had a decisive influence on the dramaturgy of this party conference in Erfurt. Münzenmayer – young, friendly, radical – organized a majority for Weidel and pushed her and his favorite candidates into the federal executive council.
In the end, a new, younger federal executive committee emerged, created taking into account the wishes of the party leader.
All Combat candidates go out to pasture
One of the new board members is Sven Tritschler from North Rhine-Westphalia. He defeated longtime board member Kay Gottschalk, about whom all sorts of evil things had been whispered beforehand. When he applies, Trichler is asked what professional qualifications he has. He replies that he studied law but did not have a degree.
Or Hannes Gnauck from Brandenburg, whom the Münzenmayer network wants to transfer to the position of treasurer instead of the experienced Karsten Hütter from Saxony. The voting ended in a draw twice, and Gnauck was able to win only in the third round by a small margin. Alexander Jungbluth and Maximilian Kneller were also supported by Münzenmayer.
“Typical again, no education, no education,” grumbles someone who doesn’t want to read his name in the article. On the other hand, Deputy Matthias Moosdorf can be called by name. According to him, the AfD actually wanted to rely on qualified personnel, and political networks are given much more weight than is good for the party. We can say: not everyone is happy with the new members of the board of directors.
Mass protest against the party conference
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Erfurt to protest against the AfD and its party conference. Police say there are 31,000 participants, organizers say 50,000. Among them is Dennis Baum, a descendant of the Jewish family that produced the GDR’s iconic Simson moped and which the AfD repeatedly uses to promote itself. Baum came from New York specifically to support the protests.
Authorities say they remain largely peaceful, although there have been minor clashes with police. Three Apollo News reporters were attacked and injured. At her final press conference, Weidel criticized the public broadcaster’s reporting for portraying the demonstrators as too peaceful. Weidel has been shooting more and more lately ORD and the ZDF, while complaining of “falsification,” deny that there are right-wing radicals in their party.
Protesters against Höcke
Many demonstrators are against Björn Höcke, chairman of the AfD Thuringia. “Höcke is a Nazi,” you can read on the posters.
In his speech on the first day, Höke denies their sanity. He calls them “wounded souls” and explains that the demonstrators were not given the opportunity to develop a “healthy identity.” And the AfD’s task is also to “establish normalcy and heal.” He doesn’t say exactly what Höke means by this.
Höcke is also expanding his influence.
A few weeks ago, Höcke’s confidant Stefan Möller formulated his ambitions for the position of deputy on the federal executive council. But he does not depend on Hecke, he thinks independently, Möller emphasized in an interview with the newspaper ARD capital studio. There was no opposition candidate, Möller received 75 percent in the elections, which is a fairly good result, given that many AfD members were previously critical of Höcke and his “Thuringian Way”.
And another of Höcke’s comrades fled: Katrin Ebner-Steiner from Bavaria, she unexpectedly fled. And thus kicked out the previous board member, Peter Behringer. The Federal Executive Council learned that Behringer was very hardworking and well versed in legislative matters. Will Ebner-Steiner take power? In any case: with these two deputy speakers, Björn Höcke can significantly expand his influence on the federal executive council.
No debate about “List of incompatibilities”
The application to which Höcke joined was to discuss a so-called incompatibility list. It stipulates that people who were once members of extremist organizations such as the Identitarian Movement or the NPD are not allowed to join the AfD.
However, the discussion did not take place and the proposal was removed from the agenda. Next year the commission will take up this issue. The recommendations the Commission makes may be harsh.