AfD has a new youth wing. Demonstrations and clashes with the police in front of the founding congress
The newly created organization “Generation Germany” is to replace the previously disbanded “Young Alternative”, loosely linked to the AfD, recognized by German counterintelligence as an extreme right-wing structure.
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What protests took place during the AfD founding congress?
Who is the new head of the 'Generation Germany' organization?
What changes does the new AfD youth wing introduce compared to the previous one?
How much support does the AfD have in the polls currently?
During the founding congress, it was agreed that the new youth wing would formally be part of the AfD, and its members must also belong to the party. The statute provides for the possibility of punishing violations of the rules – up to removal from AfD ranks. The organization is to be open to all party members under 36 years of age, the dpa news agency reported.
Leading AfD politicians were present in Giessen, including co-chairs Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, as well as the radical leader of the Thuringian AfD, Bjoern Hoecke. According to Weidel, “Generation Germany” is primarily intended to select young activists, also with a view to next year's elections to the regional parliaments of Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where – as polls indicate – the AfD may co-form a government for the first time.
“It is a source of personnel to take over government responsibility,” Weidel said about the new AfD youth wing.
The head of the organization was Jean-Pascal Hohm, a member of the far-right wing of the AfD, and considered an extremist by the Brandenburg counterintelligence structures.
Jean-Pascal HohmPAP/EPA/RONALD WITTEK
“Germany is not lost yet,” Hohm said in Giessen. — We want to be and will be a youth movement of optimism and faith in the future, he added.
AfD changes tactics
Political scientist prof. Klaus Stuewe from the Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt told PAP that the AfD leadership and the founders of the new AfD youth organization are trying to present a moderate position. — Extremist views and right-wing radical incidents within the former, now disbanded AfD youth organization “Young Alternative” were too conspicuous and had a negative impact on the image of the party itself,” the expert emphasized.
Stuewe noted that now the AfD wants to act in a more tactical way. — In organizational terms, the new youth organization is to be a legally dependent part of the AfD, as stipulated in the party's statute, amended specifically for this purpose. Thanks to this, in the future, violations of the rules or inappropriate behavior will be able to be punished within the party, noted the political scientist. He added that party youth organizations are often more critical and provocative than their parent parties. “This is also the case with other parties, and I would be surprised if it wasn't the same with the right wing,” he said.
Clashes with the police and street blockades
The congress in Giessen started with a delay of over two hours due to mass protests and street blockades. Clashes broke out in several places. Demonstrators threw stones at the police, who responded with batons and tear gas. Several people were taken to hospital, and one policeman was slightly injured.
According to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Hesse, approximately 20-30 thousand people participated in the demonstrations. people, although previously even 50 thousand were expected. protesters.
Some demonstrators tried to break into the congress hall by pushing through police barriers.
Parallel rallies were held in the center of Giessen, with participants chanting the slogans: “All together against fascism” and carrying banners with the slogans “Stop the AfD” and “Death to the Nazis.”
Prof. When asked about the role of the new AfD youth wing in the near future, Stuewe pointed out that the party is enjoying increasing support among young voters. — In the February Bundestag elections, 19 percent voted for the party. people voting for the first time – by 13 percentage points. more than in 2021. AfD also has a strong presence in social media, which is intensively used by the young generation. The new youth wing is intended to help use this potential, especially in the eastern federal states, where its creation may further strengthen the party's position, Stuewe concluded.
The AfD is currently the strongest opposition formation in the German parliament and is also leading in the polls. In a study by the INSA institute, it has 27 percent. support, ahead of the Christian Democratic bloc CDU/CSU (25%).
