Russian Origins of AfD’s Policies: Allegations and Implications

A recent report by Spiegel claims that the AfD’s positions were formulated by strategists in Russia. The report states that in September 2022, a department head at a meeting with the deputy head of the Kremlin administration, Sergey Kiriyenko, was tasked with developing a new concept for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The goal was to increase the AfD’s poll numbers and achieve a majority in elections at all levels.

However, AfD Chief Tino Chrupalla has dismissed the report as unfounded, stating that he was not aware of any alleged paper developed by the Kremlin. The document is said to paint a negative picture of Germany, mentioning deindustrialization, migration of companies and failing German economy. It also criticizes the current traffic light government and praises past leaders like Willy Brandt, Helmut Schmidt and Helmut Kohl.

The content of the document aligns with some AfD politicians’ views, advocating for an interest-driven policy rather than one based on values. The report highlights similarities between the alleged Kremlin paper and the AfD’s stance on issues like deindustrialization, competence of politicians and relationship with Russia. While some AfD members deny knowledge of the alleged paper, others see similarities in messaging.