AfD's new youth wing: What you need to know | Berlin Briefing Podcast

Key Concepts

Alternative for Germany (AfD): A far-right political party in Germany.
Junge Alternative (JA): The former youth wing of the AfD, which was close to being banned.
Generation Germany: The newly founded youth wing of the AfD.
Party Law (Parteigesetz): German law that provides stricter protections for political parties and their affiliated organizations, making them harder to ban.
Intelligence Authorities (Nachrichtendienste): German intelligence agencies responsible for monitoring extremist groups.
Basic Law (Grundgesetz): The constitution of Germany, which guarantees fundamental rights and equality.
Yellow Press (Gazettenpresse): Tabloid media known for sensationalism and often a right-wing agenda.
Identitarian Movement (Identitäre Bewegung): A far-right, ethno-nationalist movement.
Ethnic Nationalism (Ethnischer Nationalismus): A form of nationalism where the "nation" is defined in terms of ethnicity or race.
"Hoo-ker Youth" (Hooker-Jugend): A derogatory term used by critics to liken the AfD's youth wing to the Hitler Youth.
"Comrades" (Kameraden): A term historically associated with Nazi Germany, considered a "no-go" in mainstream German political discourse, especially within the AfD.
"Generation Germany": The slogan and self-identification of the new AfD youth wing.

AfD's New Youth Wing: Formation and Context

The far-right AfD party is experiencing a rise in polls and aims to enter government. To achieve this, they need to cultivate and train young individuals for future leadership roles. This necessity led to the founding of a new youth wing, "Generation Germany," following the near-banning of their previous youth organization, the "Junge Alternative" (JA).

The Need for a New Youth Wing

Previous Organization's Radicalism: The JA had become so radical that it was on the verge of being banned by German authorities.
Legal Vulnerability: The JA was an independent association, not officially part of the AfD. This structural separation made it easier to ban under German law, as it lacked the protections afforded by party law (Parteigesetz).
Integration into the Party: The restructuring aimed to integrate the youth organization directly into the AfD, thereby shielding it from potential bans under the stricter party law.

Accusations Leading to the Near-Ban of the Old Youth Wing

Violation of Constitutional Principles: The JA was under surveillance by German intelligence authorities for violating the core principles of the German constitution (Grundgesetz), which prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, culture, or origin.
Anti-Migrant Campaigning: The JA actively campaigned against migrants and questioned their equality, even if they held German citizenship. They expressed doubts about whether a Muslim migrant with a German passport should have the same rights as a native-born German.
Party's Strategic Concerns: This radical stance became problematic for the AfD party itself, exposing it to criticism and risking the ban of its youth wing.

Protests and Security at the Founding Event

The founding event of the new youth wing in the town of Gießen was met with massive protests, necessitating a significant police operation.

Scale of the Event and Police Response

Anticipated Demonstrations: Around 50,000 demonstrators and 20-30 different protest groups were expected in Gießen, a university town.
Massive Police Deployment: The police operation was described as the largest in the state's history, involving approximately 6,000 officers from across Germany, including aerial support from Berlin.
Security Measures: The area around the meeting venue was cordoned off to protesters, effectively turning the event into a "fortress." Security was significantly heightened compared to previous AfD meetings.

Protester Demographics and Actions

Diverse Turnout: Approximately 25,000 to 30,000 people participated in the protests, including families, young people, and members of unions.
Peaceful Nature: The overall protest was described as peaceful and ordinary, with many participants exercising their democratic right to protest.
Disruptive Actions: A small group successfully blocked motorway routes to the meeting, causing a two-hour delay.
Minor Incidents: While the event was largely peaceful, around 10-15 police officers sustained minor injuries.

Incident with Journalist Palan Sama

Suspicion towards Media: Protesters exhibited suspicion towards journalists, questioning their media affiliation and objectives.
Encounter with Radical Protesters: Journalist Palan Sama, working for a center-right publisher with a controversial reputation, was reportedly stopped by what he described as "radical and aggressive protesters."
Mob Mentality: The incident was attributed to a mob mentality, where frustration and anger were directed at the journalist as a proxy for the AfD, due to their inability to directly confront the party members.
Unacceptable Intimidation: The report condemned the intimidation of journalists at protests.
Context of the Journalist's Work: It was noted that Sama's publisher has a history of pushing a right-wing agenda and has previously targeted left-wing demonstrators, making him a symbolic "enemy" for some leftist groups.
Sama's Account: Sama stated he was not harmed and that the vast majority of protesters were peaceful.

AfD's Narrative and Double Standards

The AfD leadership, particularly Alice Weidel, framed the protests as undemocratic and an attack on a democratically elected party.

Alice Weidel's Statement

Weidel criticized the protesters as "left-wingers" and "extremists," calling their actions "deeply undemocratic."

Accusations of Double Standards

Hypocrisy: The report highlighted the hypocrisy of the AfD, which supports protests and freedom of speech, even when they are illegal (e.g., during COVID-19 lockdowns) or promote racist agendas (e.g., the "Pegida" protests in Dresden). However, when protests are directed against their party, they label them as illegal and criminal.
Legal Framework for Counter-Protests: German law mandates that authorities must enable counter-protesters to demonstrate close to rallies, ensuring freedom of speech. The AfD's attempt to restrict protesters' access in Gießen was seen as contrary to this principle.

AfD's Victim Narrative

Setting the Tone: The AfD leadership, including Weidel, used the protests to portray themselves as victims of an "absurd protest movement," thereby shaping their public image and agenda.
Internal Party Sentiment: Some AfD members expressed that protesters were exercising their democratic rights, acknowledging the large turnout but not necessarily opposing the right to protest.

The Strategic Importance of the New Youth Wing

The AfD views its new youth wing as a crucial tool for its future political ambitions.

Elite Training School for Future Leaders

Addressing Talent Shortage: The AfD recognizes a lack of talented individuals ready to fill leadership roles as the party gains popularity and potentially enters government.
Galvanizing Young People: Historically, youth wings have been instrumental in engaging young people, particularly on social media, and serving as a vehicle for new ideas within the party.

Control and Direction of the Party

Party Hierarchy Control: Integrating the youth wing into the party structure allows the leadership to exert greater control over its membership and activities.
Signaling Party Direction: The youth wing's activities and rhetoric are seen as indicative of the AfD's broader ideological direction.

The Ideological Direction of the AfD

The AfD's ideology extends beyond anti-migration sentiments, encompassing more radical and problematic elements.

Beyond Anti-Migration

Links to Extremist Figures: The report cited instances of leading AfD figures being convicted for using Nazi-era slogans and posing with symbols associated with Hitler's regime and the SS.
Doubting Equality: A significant concern is the party's questioning of the equality of citizens, particularly regarding migrants and Muslims, and their right to the same rights as native-born Germans.
Radicalization and Purge: The AfD has become more radical over the years, pushing out members who are not aligned with its extreme positions.

The Rise of Björn Höcke and the "Höcke Youth"

Extremist Figure: Björn Höcke is identified as a prominent extremist figure within the AfD who has defended the youth wing's radical rhetoric.
"Höcke Youth" Label: Critics use this term to draw parallels with the Hitler Youth.
Höcke's Role: Höcke's presence at the Gießen meeting was a symbolic show of support for the new youth wing. He spoke about the importance of the new generation as a "motor for innovation."

Association with White Supremacist Groups

Identitarian Movement: The AfD's youth wing has previously flirted with and worked with white supremacist groups like the Identitarian Movement, which is on the AfD's list of non-cooperation groups.

The New Leadership of "Generation Germany"

The new youth wing, "Generation Germany," is led by Jean Pascal Holm, whose past associations raise concerns.

Jean Pascal Holm: Appearance vs. Past

Polished Appearance: Holm presents a smart, politician-like image, speaking in a measured tone and not exhibiting overt radicalism.
Problematic Past: His biography reveals associations with hooligan groups, extremist organizations under surveillance, and campaigning for far-right groups.
AfD's Strategy: This "look smart, talk smart" approach is seen as a deliberate strategy by the AfD and its new youth wing to appear more palatable while maintaining a radical agenda.

Holm's Defense and Contradictions

"Generation Germany" Slogan: Holm uses slogans like "We are the generation that will save our homeland from decline" and "Generation Germany."
Dismissal of Intelligence Agencies: The AfD dismisses categorizations by German intelligence agencies as politically motivated.
Refusal to Distance from Past Groups: Holm has not distanced himself from his past associations, stating he will "never distance" himself from these groups.
Hypocrisy Regarding Non-Cooperation Lists: This contradicts the AfD's stated policy of not cooperating with groups like the Identitarian Movement, creating a "contradiction in terms" and "hypocrisy."
Tino Chrupalla's Statement: AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla stated that while collaboration with listed groups is forbidden, talking to them is not. This highlights a loophole in their policy.

The "Hitler Clown" Incident

A speech delivered at the meeting by an individual described as a "Hitler clown" caused significant controversy.

The Speaker and His Style

Provocative Speech: The speaker delivered a provocative speech in a style reminiscent of Hitler, including rolling eyes and a wagging finger.
"Comrades" Greeting: He began his speech by using the term "comrades," which is considered a "no-go" for the AfD.
"Pig in a Cow Stall" Analogy: A particularly controversial statement was the analogy: "a pig just because a pig is born in a cow stall doesn't make it a cow." This was interpreted as a xenophobic and ethno-nationalist statement, implying that non-Germans born in Germany are not truly German.

Debate on Satire vs. Infiltration

Satire or Infiltration: There was debate about whether the speech was a satirical performance or an act of infiltration by an undercover agent.
Speaker's Background: The speaker, a delegate elected from his local AfD group, had apparently been a member for only one month and presented a milder persona in a prior interview.
Provocative Content: Despite the debate about intent, the content of the speech was seen as typical of AfD rhetoric and not significantly different from other speeches at the gathering.

Election Results and Support

Delegate Status: The speaker was an elected delegate and received 85 votes for a particular role, indicating support from a segment of the attendees.
Support for Xenophobic Tropes: The "pig in a cow stall" analogy resonated with some attendees who agreed with the ethno-nationalist sentiment, which contradicts the constitutional principle of equal rights for all citizens.

Gender Imbalance in the Youth Wing

Male Domination: The AfD youth organization is noted for its significant male dominance.
Speaker's Comment on Women: When asked about the lack of women, the speaker responded that the few women present were "very pretty," devaluing their political position.

AfD's Future Strategy and Predictions

The AfD is entering a new phase focused on gaining power, with the youth wing playing a strategic role.

Shifting from Radicalization to Power Grab

Past Strategy: Previously, the AfD relied on radicalization to gain media attention and grow, particularly in Eastern Germany.
Current Goal: The current objective is to seize power, aiming for more than 40% of the vote to govern alone.
Need for Moderate Voters: To achieve this, the AfD needs to attract moderate voters, which requires a less overtly radical and racist youth organization.

Strategic Use of the Youth Wing

Social Media and Campaigning: The youth wing will likely be used for social media engagement and traditional campaigning.
Attracting Young Women: The AfD recognizes the need to make the youth wing more attractive to young women to address the current gender deficit.
University Outreach: Emulating strategies like those of Charlie Kirk in the US, the AfD aims to make its positions palatable to educated young people on university campuses, where their support is currently weak.
Professional Image: The party emphasizes the importance of a professional appearance and demeanor, moving away from overtly extremist displays ("cosplaying Himmler") while maintaining radical ideas.

"Same Old Wine, New Bottle"

Domestication of Youth Wing: The AfD seeks a more "domesticated" youth organization that, while internally radical, presents a smooth and professional public face.
Jean Pascal Holm as an Example: Holm's polished appearance and "Generation Germany" branding exemplify this strategy.
Underlying Continuity: Despite the new packaging, the core ideology and radical agenda remain the same.

Electoral Ambitions

Regional Elections: The AfD is aiming for powerful positions in upcoming regional elections, making it difficult for other parties to form governments without them.
Opposition to Coalitions: The AfD's stated goal is not coalition building but rather the destruction of opposing parties and the acquisition of sole power.

Conclusion

The AfD's establishment of "Generation Germany" signifies a strategic move to secure its future leadership and consolidate power. While the new youth wing aims for a more polished and professional image to attract moderate voters, its underlying ideology and the past associations of its leaders raise significant concerns about its commitment to democratic values and constitutional principles. The AfD's trajectory suggests a shift from radicalization for attention to a calculated pursuit of political power, with the youth wing serving as a key instrument in this ambition.