View source for Alternative for Germany

==History==
[[File:2024 German election results2.PNG|right|300px|thumb|2024 German election results.<ref>https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/sitrep-9224-zermak-on-escalation</ref>]]
The AfD was founded in 2013 by economics professor Bernd Lucke.<ref name="Germany'sFarage">Zeronian, Sarkis (July 5, 2016). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/07/05/germanys-farage-becomes-leader-of-eurosceptic-alternative-for-germany-party/ ‘Germany’s Farage’ Becomes Leader Of Eurosceptic Alternative For Germany Party]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref> Although the party was relatively conservative and [[Euroskeptic]] (it mainly opposed the Eurozone<ref name="BBC"/>), it was a neo-liberal party that attracted middle class opponents of the [[Eurozone]].<ref name="Germany'sFarage"/> The party made several gains during this time, with seven AfD members being elected to the [[European Parliament]] in 2014.<ref name="BBC">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37274201 What does Alternative for Germany (AfD) want?]. ''BBC''. September 5, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref>

A power struggle within the party soon broke out, with Lucke, who wanted the party to remain liberal while opposing the Euro, his liberal course being opposed by Frauke Petry and her conservative, right-wing faction that emphasized law and order, [[European immigration|immigration]], conservative social views, and criticism of [[Islam]].<ref name="Germany'sFarage"/> In the AfD party elections of July 2015, Petry won 68 percent of the vote, becoming the new leader of the party.<ref name="Germany'sFarage"/> The liberal Lucke subsequently left the party and formed his own.<ref name="BBC"/> Additionally, five of the party's seven MEP's left the party.<ref name="BBC"/> The AfD quickly adopted Petry's conservative, right-wing populist agenda, and it continued its support for a referendum over leaving the Eurozone.<ref name="BBC"/><ref name="Telegraph">Huggler, Justin (September 4, 2016). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/04/germanys-far-right-afd-unseats-angela-merkels-party-in-key-regio/ Germany's far-right AfD hands defeat to Angela Merkel's party in key regional vote]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref> In October 2017, Petry left the AfD and founded the Blue Party, intended to promote a more moderate and [[establishment]] "conservatism."<ref>Hale, Virginia (October13, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/10/13/former-afd-leader-launches-new-party-appealing-moderate-conservatives/ Former Populist Leader Launches Party Appealing to ‘Moderate Conservatives’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 13, 2017.</ref>

Under Petry's leadership, the AfD continued to grow dramatically, winning numerous seats in state parliaments.<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref name="DW">[http://www.dw.com/en/what-is-the-alternative-for-germany/a-19527050 What is the Alternative for Germany?]. ''DW''. September 5, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref><ref name="Wa.T.">Moulson, Geir (September 4, 2016). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/4/alternative-germany-party-wins-state-election/ Anger over Merkel’s Syria refugee policy drives win for Alternative for Germany party]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref> The AfD formed an alliance with the [[Freedom Party of Austria]] in 2016 due to their shared Eurosceptic views.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36504307 Nationalist Austria-Germany summit held on Zugspitze summit]. ''BBC''. June 10, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.</ref> Despite AfD's shift to the right under Petry, she supported making alliances with the [[establishment]] German parties with the aim of eventually forming a governing coalition with them, something which brought her under much criticism from others in her party. Alexander Gauland and Alice Weidel were elected as AfD's top candidates for the 2017 general election instead of Petry, who chose not to run.<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/04/23/germanys-populist-afd-party-elects-new-right-wing-leaders/ Germany’s Populist AfD Party Elects New Right Wing Leaders]. ''Breitbart News''. April 23, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2017.</ref>

While the AfD was unable to gain any seats in the German national parliament in the 2013 election, it gained many seats in the European Parliament in 2014.  It first entered the Bundestag in the 2017 election after taking a historic third place with nearly 13% of the vote, while Angela Merkel's CDU received its worst result since 1949.<ref>Multiple references:
*Tomlinson, Chris (September 25, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/09/25/merkel-scores-pyrrhic-victory-populists-beat-expectations/ Merkel’s Pyrrhic Victory: Worst Party Performance Since 1949 As Populist AfD Beat Expectations]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
*Dettmer, Jamie (September 25, 2017). [https://www.voanews.com/a/germany-elections-afd/4043104.html Germany Shaken by Far-right Political Earthquake]. ''Voice of America''. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
*Dettmer, Jamie (September 25, 2017). [https://www.voanews.com/a/merkel-win-seen-as-inevitable/4042028.html Merkel Wins Historic Fourth Term But Far-right Populists Surge]. ''Voice of America''. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
*Ridgwell, Henry (September 25, 2017). [https://www.voanews.com/a/germany-far-right-reclaim-country-angela-merkel-coalition-talks/4043603.html German Far-right Pledges to 'Reclaim Country' as Merkel Begins Tough Coalition Talks]. ''Voice of America''. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
*Chazan, Guy (September 24, 2017). [https://www.ft.com/content/d18213e0-a105-11e7-b797-b61809486fe2 Nationalist AfD make historic breakthrough in German elections]. ''Financial Times''. Retrieved September 25, 2017.</ref> The AfD elected a greater proportion of immigrant MPs than Merkel's CDU.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-election-immigration/germanys-far-right-afd-has-more-immigrant-mps-than-merkels-conservatives-idUSKCN1C42GZ Germany's far-right AfD has more immigrant MPs than Merkel's conservatives]. ''Reuters''. September 29, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.</ref> After the CDU and SDP formed another grand coalition government,<ref>Multiple references:
*[https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/03/05/merkel-welcomes-german-govt-deal-handing-4th-term/ Merkel Welcomes German Govt Deal Handing Her 4th Term]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
*Karnitschnig, Matthew (March 4, 2018). [https://www.politico.eu/article/germanys-social-democrats-endorse-grand-coalition/ Germany gets new government]. ''Politico''. Retrieved March 6, 2018.</ref> the AfD became the official opposition party.<ref>Oltermann, Philip (February 7, 2018). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/07/germanys-rightwing-afd-gears-up-to-play-noisy-opposition-role Germany's rightwing AfD gears up to play noisy opposition role]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved March 6, 2018.</ref> By the end of 2018, the AfD had entered every German state parliament,<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/28/world/europe/germany-hesse-election-merkel.html <br>See also:
*Montgomery, Jack (October 28, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2018/10/28/merkels-cdu-spd-coalition-partners-hammered-regional-election/ Merkel and Allies Hammered in German Regional Election]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 1, 2018.</ref> becoming one of only two parties to do this.<ref>[https://twitter.com/EuropeElects/status/1056513693935157248 Europe Elects]. ''Twitter''. October 28, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2018.</ref>

In 2018, polling found that the AfD had the second-highest level of public support of any German party,<ref>Multiple references:
*Anderson, Emma (February 19, 2018). [https://www.politico.eu/article/afd-surpasses-spd-for-first-time-in-german-poll/ AfD surpasses SPD for first time in German poll]. ''Politico''. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
*Deacon, Liam (February 19, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/02/19/poll-germany-afd-populists-second-most-popular-party/ Poll: Germany’s AfD Populists Second Most Popular Party for First Time]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
See also:
*Davis, Austin (February 20, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/20/alternative-germany-afd-rises-angela-merkel-strugg/ Far-right Alternative for Germany rises as Merkel struggles for coalition]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
*Williams, Thomas D. (June 25, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/06/25/sunday-poll-german-populist-afd-party-hits-record-high-popularity/ Sunday Poll: German Populist AfD Party Hits Record High Popularity]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 25, 2018.</ref> and it became the largest party in eastern Germany.<ref>Multiple references:
*Tomlinson, Chris (September 8, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/08/anti-mass-migration-alternative-for-germany-now-most-popular-party-in-east-germany/ Anti-Mass Migration Alternative for Germany Now Most Popular Party in East Germany]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
*Cat, Laura (September 7, 2018). [https://voiceofeurope.com/2018/09/right-wing-afd-party-keeps-growing-and-is-now-most-popular-in-east-germany/ Right-wing AfD party keeps growing and is now most popular in East Germany]. ''Voice of Europe''. Retrieved September 8, 2018.</ref> It receives relatively strong support from blue-collar workers.<ref>Dörre, Klaus (April 17, 2018). [https://thehill.com/opinion/international/383555-distant-cousins-trumpism-and-germanys-right-wing-labor-movement Distant cousins: 'Trumpism' and Germany's right-wing labor movement]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 17, 2018.</ref> By 2018, the party had made a large impact on German politics,<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/how-the-alternative-for-germany-has-transformed-the-country-a-1227360.html How the Alternative for Germany Has Transformed the Country]. ''Der Spiegel''. September 21, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2018.</ref><ref>Pasquet, Yannick (September 24, 2018). [https://www.timesofisrael.com/one-year-on-far-right-has-transformed-german-politics/ One year on, far right has transformed German politics]. ''The Times of Israel''. Retrieved October 14, 2018.</ref> and it built a strong social media presence.<ref>Grieshaber, Kirsten (May 18, 2019). [https://www.apnews.com/fd9d10b52c304f6b9b3c7f3cb1ada5a8 German far-right rules digital campaign for Europe election]. ''Associated Press''. Retrieved May 18, 2019.</ref> The AfD performed particularly well in the regional elections in Saxony and Brandenburg, seeing its best-ever results in any German state.<ref>Multiple references:
*Byas, Steve (September 2, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/33295-alternative-for-germany-party-receives-most-votes-ever-in-saxony-and-brandenburg Alternative for Germany Party Receives Most Votes Ever in Saxony and Brandenburg]. ''The New American''. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
*Tomlinson, Chris (September 2, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/09/02/populist-afd-see-massive-gains-in-eastern-german-regional-elections/ Populist AfD Sees Massive Gains in Eastern German Regional Elections]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
*Nasr, Joseph (September 1, 2019). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-elections-afd/buoyed-by-state-votes-germanys-afd-takes-aim-at-merkel-coalition-idUSKCN1VM1L0 Buoyed by state votes, Germany's AfD takes aim at Merkel coalition]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
*Bhatti, Jabeen; Banaj, Eros (September 1, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/sep/1/alternative-germany-election-surge-hits-angela-mer/ Germany's anti-immigrant party sees election surge against Angela Merkel's moderates]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
See also:
*Rahn, Wesley; Knight, Ben (September 2, 2019). [https://p.dw.com/p/3Os3i Germany: Berlin reacts to far-right surge in eastern elections]. ''Deutsche Welle''. Retrieved September 8, 2019.</ref> Members of the CDU began cooperating with the AfD on the local level.<ref>Schumacher, Elizabeth (September 11, 2019). [https://p.dw.com/p/3POwG CDU, AfD find common ground in 18 towns, report says]. ''Deutsche Welle''. Retrieved September 15, 2019.</ref> The AfD performed very well in the regional elections in Thuringia on October 27, 2019, performing better than Merkel's CDU.<ref>Multiple references:
*Tomlinson, Chris (October 28, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/10/28/german-populists-surpass-merkel-party-in-regional-elections/ German Populists Surpass Merkel Party in Regional Elections]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
*Carrel, Paul; Hummel, Tassilo (October 26, 2019). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-elections-thuringia/far-right-afd-hurts-merkels-cdu-in-german-state-vote-idUSKBN1X50L1 Far-right AfD hurts Merkel's CDU in German state vote]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
*Posander, Joshua (October 27, 2019). [https://www.politico.eu/article/far-left-and-right-outflank-center-in-regional-german-vote/ Far left and right outflank center in regional German vote]. ''Politico''. Retrieved October 28, 2019.</ref>

The AfD worked to gain influence in Germany's cultural institutions.<ref>Apperly, Eliza (October 28, 2019). [https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2019/10/germany-far-right-culture-war/598978/ The Far Right Is Taking On Cultural Institutions]. ''The Atlantic''. Retrieved November 3, 2019.</ref>

The AfD was banned from participating the [[Munich Security Conference]] in 2023. After [[NATO]]'s crushing losses in the [[NATO war Ukraine]], the ban was lifted for 2026 conference.