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Verbal attacks from the AfD are known; party leader Meuthen led them into his own ranks at the party’s federal conference in Kalkar, North Rhine-Westphalia. He asked to distance himself from the troublemakers and provocateurs.
The head of the AfD, Jörg Meuthen, has harshly denounced the activities of the right and an increasingly radical choice of words in the party. It is unwise to speak of a “dictatorship of the Crown,” Meuthen told the AfD party conference in Kalkar. “We do not live in a dictatorship, otherwise we could not hold this party congress like this one.” If some “are more than happy to fight” or invite others to the Bundestag for that, “crowds of people will no longer vote for us in the future.”
Meuthen called on his party to distance itself from the rioters and provocateurs in its own ranks and warned against disappearing into political insignificance. “What we need more than anything is the internal discipline of the party,” he said. “This includes the impeccable behavior of all officials and also ordinary members, from parliament to the road.” The party leader criticized the fact that some in the AfD did not show distance from the so-called movement of lateral thinkers and used the term “Enabling Law.”
“This cannot and must not go on like this,” Meuthen demanded in his speech, which sounded like a lecture for a long time and was ultimately followed by boos. “Either we hit the bend here, and very determined and very early. Or we, as a group, will find ourselves in a very, very rough sea in the not too distant future.”
Chrupalla accuses Merkel of “emergency policy”
AfD President Tino Chrupalla opened the federal party conference in Kalkar, North Rhine-Westphalia, with an attack on the supposed “emergency policy” of the federal government during the Corona crisis. In front of hundreds of delegates, he accused Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government of pursuing a “pure bankruptcy policy.” Stocks would be destroyed, the wave of bankruptcies is already underway, the course of the pandemic will cost many people their jobs. The AfD wants to defend your interests.
Chrupalla countered critics who find a meeting irresponsible in times of a pandemic that such face-to-face partisan conferences are indispensable in a democracy. “If we let a virus put us in our place, democracy has already been lost.” At the same time, Chrupalla appealed to delegates to adhere to the concept of hygiene.
Protests against the party congress
The party congress amid the second crown wave had been heavily criticized beforehand. Several hundred people demonstrated in the Lower Rhine city against the gathering of right-wing populists. The alliance called “Stand Up Against Racism” at the rally. Members of the Bundestag from almost all parties spoke at a rally.
Meuthen: “We will strictly adhere to this”
Strict hygiene requirements apply to the party congress. Mouth and nose protection should also be worn on the seats, but a complaint from the AfD to the Münster Higher Administrative Court was unsuccessful. AfD boss Meuthen said NDR information Regarding Corona’s requirements: “We will strictly adhere to this and there will be no exceptions.” He added: “If someone resists, they will be expelled.” The city of Kalkar has announced that it will end the party congress if necessary if the conditions are not met.
The concept of pension will be adopted
The federal party conference is scheduled for two days. The 600 or so delegates want to adopt a pension concept, among other things. The question of what the AfD’s position on basic income for all is likely to be hotly debated. In addition, two positions must be filled on the federal executive committee. Treasurer Klaus Fohrmann resigned in January. AfD board member Andreas Kalbitz was denied membership in May because he was said to have hidden his membership from the far-right German Youth (HDJ) and Republicans. The by-elections are scheduled for Sunday.
