According to a recent report by Spiegel, there are allegations that the AfD’s political positions were formulated by strategists in Russia. The report claims that in September 2022, a department head attended a meeting with the deputy head of the Kremlin administration, Sergey Kiriyenko, where they were tasked with developing a new concept for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The goal was to increase the party’s poll numbers and achieve a majority in elections at all levels.
However, AfD Chief Tino Chrupalla has dismissed these claims as unfounded, stating that he had no knowledge of any alleged paper developed by the Kremlin. The alleged document purportedly paints a negative picture of Germany, mentioning deindustrialization, the migration of companies, and a failing German economy. It also criticizes the current traffic light government and praises past leaders like Willy Brandt, Helmut Schmidt, and Helmut Kohl.
Despite Chrupalla’s denial of knowledge of the alleged document, some AfD politicians have acknowledged its existence and see similarities between it and their own views. They advocate 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 the relationship with Russia. While some AfD members deny knowledge of the alleged paper, others see similarities in the messaging.