Around 600 delegates gather today for a national party conference of the AfD in Magdeburg, which is then followed by the European elections. But even before the vote on the candidates for the European elections begins on Saturday, the question is how much European cooperation the AfD is aiming for.
The party is currently a member of the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament, along with the Austrian FPÖ and the French Rassemblement National, among others. The federal board is now proposing that the AfD also join the party of the same name.
“The members of the ID party recognize the rights of all to defend their specific economic, social, cultural and territorial models, unique in Europe,” the motion reads. The ID party is “a very suitable platform for further promoting networking with the AfD’s European sister parties”. The ID party also receives funding from the EU budget.
AfD formulates a counter-motion
But some AfD members, including elected officials, do not like it. You have formulated a counter-proposal that says: “With our national voice, which speaks directly for German interests even at EU level, our positions have more weight and more chance of success than in an EU party prepared for compromises.”
In addition, possible changes to the AfD statutes will be discussed today. In addition, new members are to be elected for the party’s internal arbitration board. On Saturday, the party will continue at the same place with the European election assembly.
Since the AfD recently achieved values between 18 percent and 22 percent in nationwide voter polls, the right-wing populists have decided to elect a sufficient number of candidates in any case. The meeting in Saxony-Anhalt’s state capital will be accompanied by several demonstrations by political opponents.
The German Association of Towns and Municipalities warns
It is not yet clear who will be the AfD’s top candidate for the European elections. The Saxon MEP Maximilian Krah is traded as a possible number one. However, it is said behind the scenes that there could possibly also be opposing candidates or – in the case of a candidacy without competitors – many “no” votes. A large field of candidates is expected, especially in places 5 to 25. There will probably also be several applicants from the Bundestag faction for some of the top list places.
The European election meeting will be interrupted on Sunday, and the AfD delegates will continue in Magdeburg on the following Friday. The debate about the European election program could – at least according to a proposal by the federal executive board – only take place at the very end. Then it’s once again a question of whether the AfD supports Germany’s exit from the European Union or not.
The German Association of Towns and Municipalities warned against playing down the party. “The AfD represents a prosperity-destroying policy that would be devastating for Germany,” said managing director Gerd Landsberg, the “Stuttgarter Zeitung” and the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten”.
