AfD declares withdrawal from ID party - cooperation in new right-wing parliamentary group open
With the decision on Sunday, the split between the AfD and ID was completed. The AfD federal executive used the expanded powers granted to it by the federal party congress on Sunday afternoon to make a two-thirds majority decision for a constitutional amendment, allowing the federal executive alone to decide on membership and expulsion from European parties. Previously, such decisions could only be made by a regular party congress.
The future of the AfD delegation in the European Parliament remains open for now. The AfD is keeping open the possibility of participating in the new far-right faction in the European Parliament. A spokesperson for party leader Alice Weidel told the AFP news agency on the sidelines of the federal party congress that this new faction offers the AfD "new opportunities for cooperation with other parties."
Weidel herself made joining the new faction contingent on it not having any antisemites. The AfD's decision on future faction membership has not yet been made, she told journalists in Essen. Should the AfD not find a suitable faction, "we'll just be alone for a while and see what develops over the next few years," Weidel said.
Weidel acknowledged the AfD's share of the blame for being expelled from the right-wing ID faction in the European Parliament. "Mistakes were made, and they ran into them," she said. "I can't sugarcoat it, it's bitter: They put a chair in front of the door for us."
Co-party leader Tino Chrupalla said in Essen that the AfD would likely discuss joining the new far-right faction in the European Parliament. It could also be that "as a large party, we want to found our own faction."
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the head of the Austrian FPO, Herbert Kickl, announced the founding of a new far-right faction in the European Parliament on Sunday. Orban and Kickl announced this at a joint press conference with the former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis in Vienna and called on other European parties to join the new alliance named "Patriots for Europe."
The new alliance needs the support of parties from four additional countries to be recognized as a faction in the EU Parliament. Right-wing parties made significant gains in many countries during the European election in early June.
Peter Boehringer, a prominent AfD member, expressed his concerns about the potential alliance with FPÖ due to their past controversies related to democracy and human rights. He stated during the Federal Party Conference that "we must be careful not to align ourselves with parties that threaten the very foundations of our democratic values."
Maximilian Krah, another AfD leader, advocated for a pragmatic approach, arguing that the party should not miss out on potential cooperations in the European Parliament for the sake of moral objections. He said, "We must consider the bigger picture and the potential benefits for our stance on key European issues."
In response to the split with ID party, Alice Weidel emphasized the need for a thorough vetting process before joining any new faction. She mentioned that the AfD would not tolerate any antisemites within the new alliance, reiterating her commitment to promoting a tolerant and inclusive political environment.
The announcement of the new alliance named "Patriots for Europe" was met with skepticism from some European leaders and organizations. Critics argued that the alliance could further exacerbate divisions within the EU and potentially undermine the principles of unity and cooperation that have underpinned European politics for decades.
Despite the controversies, the AfD's co-leader Tino Chrupalla remained optimistic about the potential benefits of joining the new far-right faction. He said, "We must seize this opportunity to strengthen our voice and influence in European politics."
Meanwhile, Fidesz, a fellow right-wing party, expressed its support for the new alliance, pledging to work closely with the AfD and other members of the alliance to promote their shared values and goals in the European Parliament.
The announcement of the new alliance has sparked discussions within the AfD about their future direction and strategy in the European Parliament. Some members argue for cautious participation in the new faction, while others advocate for founding their own independent faction to better represent their unique position and interests within the EU.
As the situation evolves, it remains to be seen how the AfD will navigate this challenging period and what role they will ultimately play in shaping the future of European politics.
