German far-right party overhauls youth organization to curb radical ties
German media reported that the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party plans to dissolve its current youth association, the 'Junge Alternative' (JA), replacing it with a new organization.
Germany's far-right party, Alternative for Germany, plans to dissolve its youth wing, Junge Alternative, and replace it with a new, party-controlled organization aimed at distancing itself from extremist ties and addressing legal and political vulnerabilities ahead of upcoming elections.
According to Focus Online, the AfD’s federal board has amended the party’s constitution to enable this change. The proposed new youth association is expected to resemble the Jusos, the youth organization of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Under the planned structure, all AfD members aged 16 to 35 would automatically be included in the youth association – a system already used by the SPD.The decision follows ongoing concerns about the independence of the Junge Alternative. Currently, not all members of the JA are required to be AfD members, which has allowed the group to operate independently and made it vulnerable to legal scrutiny.Roughly half of the JA’s reported 2,400 members are not affiliated with the AfD, Berliner Zeitung reported. This detachment has fueled internal debates about the group’s radical tendencies and exposed the party to accusations of harboring extremist elements.The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified the JA as a confirmed right-wing extremist group. This classification has posed significant challenges for the AfD, which aims to enhance its coalition potential ahead of the federal elections in February. In a party document, the AfD leadership emphasized that the JA’s activities and its links to extremist groups undermine the party’s broader political ambitions.
Concerns over radicalization
Recent incidents have exacerbated these concerns. At an AfD election party, Anna Leisten, deputy chairwoman of the JA, reportedly sang and danced to a controversial song advocating deportation, according to Bild. Leisten has been a prominent figure within the JA and is known for her connections to right-wing extremist circles.Additionally, Berliner Zeitung revealed that the JA created a mobile game, Deutschlandretter24 (Germany Rescuer 24), which included tasks like deporting migrants – actions widely condemned by critics.The term ‘remigration,’ a central slogan of the JA that alludes to mass deportations, has further tarnished the group’s reputation. Many JA members reportedly maintain ties with the far-right Identitarian Movement, and two JA members were implicated in the coup plans of the Saxon Separatists, a terrorist group under investigation by Germany’s Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office.These links to extremism have also been highlighted at the state level. Several regional JA chapters in Brandenburg, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt have been classified as right-wing extremist organizations. The AfD’s Thuringian state association, led by party leader Björn Höcke, has similarly been labeled as a proven right-extremist since 2021.The AfD intends to create a youth organization that is more directly connected to the party to address these issues. Berliner Zeitung reported that the move would help the party maintain stronger control over its youth wing, mitigating legal risks associated with independent operations. The automatic membership structure would also mirror the SPD’s approach, ensuring closer alignment between the youth association and the parent party.
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